2006 Toyota Prius Brakes Problems

Your brakes completely failed while your daughter was driving through a 4-way stop, leaving her unable to stop the car—fortunately, your father was able to guide her to safety. There was a recall issued in 2016 for the Brake Actuator Assembly (the part that controls your brakes), but Toyota says the recall has expired. The brake system should be inspected and the failed brake actuator assembly likely needs to be replaced to restore safe braking.

Your Prius's brake actuator has failed, making the car unsafe to drive. You'll see warning lights and hear a loud beep when you start the vehicle. The manufacturer has refused to repair or recall this issue. The brake actuator will need to be replaced to restore safe braking function.

Your brake actuator isn't working properly, which could eventually cause an accident. Toyota issued a recall for this issue, but you were never notified and the company says you're now outside the recall window and won't help. You're asking for documentation of the original recall notice, which Toyota cannot provide.

Your car's ABS actuator has failed, which means your anti-lock braking system isn't working and your regenerative braking (which recharges the battery) isn't functioning. This is a serious safety issue because it affects your ability to stop the vehicle properly. You'll need to have the ABS actuator replaced by a mechanic.

Your power brakes may fail or become less responsive, requiring you to press much harder on the brake pedal to stop the car. You may also experience unexpected braking when reversing, and notice the ABS and brake warning lights illuminated along with a ringing sound in the cabin.

Your Prius is making a loud buzzing sound from the brakes, and your brake warning light, ABS light, and stability control light are all on at the same time. Your brakes may not be working properly. This has been diagnosed as an accumulator failure in the brake system, and even after replacement, the problem keeps coming back.

When you brake while going over a bump, your Prius lurches forward and the traction control light comes on. During this lurch, your brakes temporarily fail for 1-2 seconds before re-engaging and allowing you to stop. Your dealer mentioned there's an ECM reprogramming fix available, though they're uncertain if it applies to your 2006 model since it was officially released for 2008-2009 models.

Your car's ABS sensor (part of the brake system) failed while you were driving on the highway. The ABS system helps prevent wheel lockup during hard braking, so this failure could have made it harder to stop safely. This sensor should typically last much longer than it did. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the faulty ABS sensor.

Your 2006 Prius with 170,000 miles is making noise from the ABS brake actuator whenever you turn off the engine. This is likely a sign that the ABS system needs attention. The fix will probably involve inspecting or replacing the ABS actuator unit.

In June of 2018 My brake actuator failed on my 2006 Prius. At that time I had 169,689 miles on the vehicle. I had the part replaced at Autonation, a Toyota dealership for $2626 . Recently I had noticed that while sitting at a stoplight I was hearing a tapping noise at the brakes along with what they refer to as a 'seal bark'. The same sounds the car was making just before the actuator failed three years before. A few days later I was driving south on highway 19 in Saint Petersburg during a light rainstorm. Traffic slowed quickly in front of me. I pressed on the brake pedal and the brakes locked up. The ABS was not working. I was barely able to avoid a crash. On September 27th I took the car to the same Toyota dealership that had replaced the actuator three years earlier. I told them about the noises at the brakes and told them these were the same sounds the car was making when the actuator failed the first time. They checked it out and told me that everything was working fine and that the car was not issuing any error codes. They could hear the same noises that I could, but said that I would need to continue to drive the car until the actuator failed to the point that it lit up dash lights or issued error codes. I logged on to PriusChat to search for what other people were seeing. I am not alone in this. Many others have had the same experience with the dealerships saying 'drive it till it fails'. Drive it until you lose your brakes? If I'm in this situation, then how many other Prius owners are driving around with dangerous brakes. I have no choice but to wait until the failure gets worse. If you search results on PriusChat for 'actuator', I think you will see that this probably means that there are thousands of cars just like mine out there on the roads. I got 169,689 miles out of the first actuator and just 22,000 out of the second one. Based on what I've seen on PriusChat, the new part seems to be worse than the original part.

Vehicle, upon turning on ignition/starting and putting in either drive or reverse gear, on level surface with brakes still applied will roll forward or backward. This has happened several times but usually at first start up for the day No warning lights(brake or other) are displayed Brake pedal is firm /no problems with pads/shoes ,brakes work fine any other time. I have called the local toyota dealer and toyota(company) and told them about this safety issue but was told i would have to pay to get it diagnosed . No one other than my wife child and i experienced this problem . Fortunately no one has gotten hurt. Was suprised to learn that this problem is not a part of a recall.

OWNER BEGAN NOTICING BRAKING PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER 2017. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR WITH MINIMAL BRAKING. PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER HOLIDAY PERIOD ON 02/09/18 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. TOYOTA ADVISED OWNER OF FAILURE OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY, $2500.00 REPAIR, AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITHOUT REPAIR PERFORMED. TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS BRAKE DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES AND ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZG1 TO CORRECT AT NO COST TO OWNERS. THE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2017. MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EXACT BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM 2 MONTHS LATER ON 09 FEBRUARY, 2018. TOYOTA REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. REQUEST NHTSA TO ISSUE NEW DIRECTION FOR TOYOTA TO CORRECT THIS CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE FOR PRIUS VEHICLES BEYOND THE 31 DECEMBER, 2017 DATE.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, AND ALSO UPON BACK ROADS, THE BRAKES IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS SEEMED TO GRAB. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD NOISE UPON BRAKING. THIS ISSUE WORSENED AND THE DASH LIGHTS LIT UP. I TOOK TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SAFETY ISSUE OF BRAKES GOING OUT IN THE FUTURE. (NOT IF BUT WHEN). I WAS TOLD WHEN THE BRAKES GO OUT, I AM TO PUSH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST TO A STOP. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND COULD HAPPEN WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT OR BRAKING TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. THE COST TO FIX THIS BRAKE ACTUATOR ISSUE WILL BE APPX $3000. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, TOYOTA KNEW OF THE ISSUE AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED DEC 2017. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER '06 PRIUS OWNERS OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN DEC OF 2017. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH WHEN THE BRAKES DO STOP WORKING AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, NOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH TOYOTA THAT EXPIRES.

THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS MAKING LOTS OF CHIRPING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. WHILE I AM NOT GETTING ANY VISUAL INDICATORS OF FAILURE AT THIS MOMENT I BELIEVE (DUE TO MY OWN RESEARCH) THAT WHEN I DO THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE OF ME GETTING INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ ON PRIUSCHAT.COM THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO THE FAULTY PUMP WHICH CAUSED A CAR WRECK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT TO BE IN AND TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND THEIR WARRANTY TO COVER THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIES.

ABS WARNING LIGHT ARE NOW ON. FEEL CAR IS LOSING BREAK CAPABILITY. NO ACCIDENT BUT DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT WITH THE BRAKE CAPACITY. TODAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY (CODE C1391) NEED TO BE REPLACE. LOOKING IN THE INTERNET AND IT LOOKS A VERY COMMON DEFECT FOR PRIUS. THIS IS A PRIUS 2006 WITH 163.000 MILES. TOYOTA KNOW ABOUT THIS, EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I AM OUT OUT THIS EXTENSION. BUT THIS SYSTEM SHOULD PROPERTY WORK FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

BREAKS, IBS AND OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON DURING A ROAD TRIP. BREAKS SIENGSGED AND I HAD TO PRESS HARDER AND 'PUMP' IN ORDER TO BREAK. TOOK TO MR. TIRE TO CHECK -AND REPLACED BREAKS AND FLUSH. LIGHTS STILL ON. TOOK TO THE DEALER- IBS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FAILURE. QUOTED REPAIR OVER $2400. APPARENTLY, SOME OWNERS OF THIS MODEL RECEIVED LETTER FOR WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. DEALER DID NOT MENTION THIS OPTION AT ALL. HTTPS://ATTACHMENTS.PRIUSCHAT.COM/ATTACHMENT-FILES/2017/12/136422_PRIUS_2ND_GEN_-_BRAKE_ACTUATOR_WARRANTY_EXTENSION.PDF

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED I SUDDENLY RECEIVED A LOUD CONTINUOUS BEEP AND MY ABS , BRAKE , AND (!) ILLUMINATED. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND I HAD NO BRAKES EXCEPT WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IT FELT AS IS IT WAS JUST PULLING THE REAR DRUMS. IT TOOK A WHILE TO STOP AND I SIDE SWIPED THE MEDIAN BARRIER TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AS TRAFFIC WAS BUILDING. I ASSUME IT WAS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ALMOST A DECADE LATER BUT NO RECALL. FOR SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THAT ISN'T A RECALL.

ABS ACTUATOR FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL THAT WAS GOOD UNTIL 2017 AND 150K MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 192K MILES. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE THREE ABS LIGTHS CAME ON AND MY BRAKES FAILED. I SCANNED THE COMPUTER USING AN OBD AND IT INDICATED FAILURE.

ON MOVING CAT, I KEEP GETTING INTERMITTENT BREAK ALARM WITH PUSH BACK OF BREAK PEDEL AND INABILITY TO APPLY BREAK. IT'S SCARY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA OF TAMPA BAY ON, AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM.

WHEN DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS I AM UNABLE TO STOP PROPERLY. THE BRAKES GO ALL THE WAY DOWN BUT IT HESITATES TO STOP I GET A LOUD PEEPING AND THE ABS LIGHTS ARE COMING ON. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKES ARE GOOD. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE THAT DEALS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND TOYOTA IS PRICE GAUGING TO FIX IT, CAN SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT WONT WORK WITH PEOPLE TO FIX IT?

ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, DESPITE REGULAR TOYOTA MAINTENANCE AND A RECENT PASSED MULTIPOINT BRAKE INSPECTION BY TOYOTA. WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC, THE TOYOTA MECHANIC REPORTED THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WENT OUT AND IT WOULD BE ALMOST $3000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, LUCKILY MY BRAKES DID NOT GO OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE WARRANTY EXTENDENTION DID NOT COVER MY VEHICLE ANYMORE AND DOES NOT RESOLVE THE FACT THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE ANYONE ENDS UP IN A ACCIDENT. IT IS A LIABILITY AND IS UNACCEPTABLE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE INJURED OR DIE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. THIS EXACT FAILURE WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZG1 WHICH HAS EXPIRED. WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR EXCEEDING $2500. TOYOTA IS NON RESPONSIVE. WE ARE SENIORS WITH NO HOPE OF RESOLUTION. PLEASE INTERVENE. WE DO NOT WANT TO DIE FROM THIS BRAKE FAILURE. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS US ALL.

FAILURE IF THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR AFTER 105,000 MILE IN FEBRUARY 2019. THE ACTUATOR WOULD RUN EVERY FEW SECONDS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON CAUSING THE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND TRIMS TO HEAT UP EXCESSIVELY. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH GENERATION 2 PRIUS

I HAVE A 2006 AND 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. BOTH SHOW A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ABS ACTUATOR HYDRO BOOST PUMP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS' AS SHOWN ON YOU TUBE AND THE TOYOTA PRIUS FORUM. DASH LIGHTS LIGHTS INCLUDE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, TRAC. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ON. ACTUATOR MAKING NOISE.

WILL RANDOMLY REFUSE TO STOP ON DEMAND. VERY LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM BRAKE ACTUATOR WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED. CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE. OVER $1500 TO REPLACE!!

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR HAS FAILED AND TOYOTA WANTS $3000 TO REPAIR IT AND I SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I ONLY HAVE 137000 ON THE VEHICLE.

TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. PASSED THROUGH RED LIGHT NEAR MISS SITUATION. TOWED TO SHOP AND COST OF REPAIR EXCEEDS $2000 FOR THIS INVOLVED REPAIR AS THIS IS A COMPLICATED BRAKING SYSTEM. PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM CALLED THE ACCUMULATOR IS DEFECTIVE IN THESE CARS AND CAN RESULT IN SPONTANIOUS BRAKE FAILURE. YOU ARE ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOME BRAKING EVEN IF THE ASSISTED BRAKES MALFUNCTION. SUDDENLY, OUR CAR HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. SHE HAD ZERO BRAKES FROM THE PEDAL AND THE PEDDLE STYLE EMERGENCY-BRAKE HAD LOCKED UP AND OR WASNT ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT. BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD NOT GIVE OUT ON A VEHICLE THAT GETS VERY LITTLE WEAR TO THE BRAKES DUE TO THE EXTRA REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. OUR BRAKE PADS AND SHOES HAVE LOTS OF LIFE STILL. THIS IS PURELY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES ARE A HAZARD ON THE ROAD. I HAVE LOVED THE CAR UNTIL I EXPERIENCED THIS BRAKE FAILURE.

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR STARTED MAKING FREQUENT NOISE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BEEPS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THE CLANKING OR HUMMING NOISE DURING BRAKING

BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. *DT *JB

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND ACCUMULATOR HAVE FAILED! OUR UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS IS THE PART THAT STORES POWER FOR BREAKING WHEN IT'S OPERATING UNDER BATTERY POWER VS. THE ENGINE. RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BOTH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IF YOU DO AN INTERNET SEARCH YOU WILL FIND ABUNDANT COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA HAD A "SILENT RECALL" ON THE REPAIR, BUT THAT ENDED 12/31/17. NOW THEY NO LONGER COVER THE $2700 COST OF THE REPAIR. THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERNET REPORTS OF PEOPLE GETTING INTO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CAR DRIVES FINE, IT JUST DOESN'T STOP WELL AT ALL, INTERMITTENTLY (WHEN UNDER BATTERY OPERATION VS. POWERED BY ENGINE, AND WE WOULD ESTIMATE THE BREAKING FUNCTION WHEN UNDER BATTERY OPERATION TO CURRENTLY BE AT 20% OF NORMAL. HTTPS://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/BRAKE-ACTUATOR-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-FROM-TOYOTA.168243/

CAR HAS NO BRAKE WHEN FIRST START UP. PUT CAR IN DRIVE AFTER START UP AND WOULD HAVE NO BRAKE. ALMOST HIT PARENTS AND KIDS IN THE MORNING AT SCHOOL OR EVEN IN GROCERY PARKING LOT.

MY VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE ABS ACTUATOR, A PART PREVIOUSLY UNDER RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER-TOYOTA. (2006 TOYOTA PRIUS ABS PART, ACTUATOR COMPLETE ASSEMBLY, ID 44510-47050) WARNING LIGHTS: MASTER WARNING ABS BRAKE SYSTEM: CODES: P0571, C1256, C1391. THIS DEFECTIVE BRAKING COMPONENT MAKES MY VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TODAY. THIS ABS ACTUATOR CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME AND AT ANY SPEED. TOYOTA PREVIOUSLY LAUNCHED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS SAME PART ON A PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, BUT PURPOSEFULLY EXCLUDED THOUSANDS OF VULNERABLE DRIVERS FROM GETTING NECESSARY REPAIRS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS PART IN THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE VEHICLES EVEN WHILE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH KNOWN DEFECTS. THIS PART IS WORTH NEARLY THE TRADE-IN AMOUNT OF MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS DELIBERATELY KEEPING UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, WITH A KNOWN ISSUE.

LUCKILY, I WAS WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A CLICK/TSST SOUND. I FELT MY BREAK PEDAL PUSH UPWARDS. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE PEDAL AND REALIZE THAT MY BRAKING POWER WAS VERY MINIMAL. THE CAR WAS ONLY COASTING TO A STOP REGARDLESS OF THE PRESSURE APPLYING AND I HAD TO FIGHT TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AT THIS TIME THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. I THEN CREEPED INTO THE TURN LANE, GIVING MY CAR ABOUT 7-10MPH. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, MY CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN, I THEN SLAMMED MY BREAKS AND MY CAR SPEED UP AND SLAMMED INTO A GAS STATION.

THE ABS ACTUATOR RUNS CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO KEEP THE SYSTEM RUNNING. MY MECHANIC SAYS ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT FAILS, THE COST IS $2900 TO FIX, TOYOTA,S WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZG-1 EXPIRED DEC 2017 AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE ABS ACTUATOR.

BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED WHEN CAR WAS BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT; CAR MADE JERKING ACTION AND STOPPED ON ITS OWN; ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT; WARNING TO TAKE IT FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY - WHICH WAS DONE AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE DEALER (DRIVEN THERE).

ABS ACTUATOR/ ACCUMULATOR FAILING. UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR

THE ABS ACTUATOR IS FAILING TO PRIME CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO SLIP AND THE BRAKES NOT TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE BOTH STATIONARY AND DRIVING. I SEE THAT TOYOTA HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE HOWEVER THAT EXPIRED 12/31/2017. MY ISSUE STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2018. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR REFERENCE.

MY BRAKES FAILED 4/3/18 WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DURING RUSH HOUR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED IN TRAFFIC AND I HAD PLENTY OF BRAKE DISTANCE BUT AS MY CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP IT SUDDENLY FELT AS IF THE ENGINE REVVED AND PROPELLED THE CAR FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS FULLY ENGAGED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THAT IT RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. I TOLD THE TWO OFFICERS THAT ARRIVED ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES BUT THEY IGNORED ME AND ISSUED A $165 TICKET FOR "FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY". THE ACCIDENT BECAME A LAWSUIT AND A REP FROM MY INSURANCE CONTACTED ME FOR DETAILS. I ALSO TOLD HER ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND ONCE AGAIN WAS IGNORED. THIS PAST SATURDAY (4/14/18 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE) I DECIDED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. AFTER SHOPPING I GOT INTO MY CAR, HIT THE POWER BUTTON AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, MY INTENT BEING TO LEAVE MY PARKING SPACE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE SINCE I SAW A CAR APPROACHING FROM MY RIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY, BUT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND MY CAR STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. IT JUST DROVE ITSELF, IN REVERSE, OUT INTO ONCOMING PARKING LOT TRAFFIC. THIS TIME I WAS BETTER PREPARED AND SINCE THE CAR WAS MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, IT WASN'T GOING VERY FAST SO I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT SEEMED TO "RESET" IT AND THE BRAKES CAME BACK. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE COLLIDING WITH ANYONE. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THIS CAR BUT NOW I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR. THE STRESS ALONE IS CAUSING ME TO LOSE SLEEP AND FOCUS THROUGHOUT MY DAY. EVERY TIME I HAVE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE WORRY THAT I MAY END UP HURTING SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

PRIUS MAKING BUZZING SOUND EVERY 15-20 SECONDS DUES TO FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR PUMP WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF. THAT MEANS IT IS LEAKING BREAKING SYSTEM PRESSURE. NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE AS ABS PRESSURE DOES NOT STAY AND CAR ROLLS WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE MODE. HAVE TO KEEP APPLYING BREAKS FOR CAR TO STOP. THE ROLLING OCCURS GOOD 3 TO 4 SECONDS AND THAT'S ENOUGH TO COVER 3 FEET OR SO. IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN REVERSING FROM PARK WITH SLOPE SURFACE.

FAILURE OF ABS ACTUATOR. I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A " WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT " PROGRAM THAT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR MY VEHICLE ON THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. THE EXTENSION PORTION OF THE WARRANTY FOR MY VEHICLE EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 2017. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2006 AND HAVE FAITHFULLY HAD IT SERVICED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EVERY 5000 MILES. TOWARD THE END OF 2017 I NOTICED THE CAR MAKING SOME NOISES AFTER I PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE. I ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE NOISE THAT THE CAR OFTEN MADE WHEN FIRST TURNED OFF. I HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER IN OCT AND NOV 2017 AND AGAIN IN JAN 2018 AND NO PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED WITH THE ACTUATOR. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE SO WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ITS ROUTINE SERVICE IN MARCH 2018 I ASKED THEM TO CHECK WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. WHEN I WENT TO PICKUP THE CAR THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR I IMMEDIATELY HEARD THE NOISE AND ACCOMPANIED THEM BACK TO THE CAR TO HEAR THE NOISE. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND WHEN HE FINISHED I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY GOING BAD AND WAS QUOTED $2700 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I WAS ADVISED THAT I WOULD KNOW KNOW WHEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY WHEN SEVERAL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY ALL OF THE RELATED WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. FORTUNATELY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. AFTER EXPLORING THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON DANGEROUS FAILURE AND THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT TOYOTA HAS STOPPED PROVIDING REPLACEMENT WHEN THIS PART FAILS ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES JUST QUIT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAD VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER. A LOT OF LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON VSC, ABS, SKID, ETC... AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THIS WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD UP UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2017. TOYOTA IS NOT COVERING FIX AND TOLD ME TO FIX CAR FOR $3000 OR PARK IT, IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP. NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE RECALL.

TAKATA RECALL - THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. DURING ROUTING TRIP TO NEARBY GROCERY STORE, THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS CAME "ON," BRAKE, ABS, VSC, CHECK ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME ON A PUBLIC STREET, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR, I RAN IT INTO THE CURB. THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE DROPPED AND IT SEEMS THE BACK BRAKES MAY STILL BE FUNCTIONING BUT FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL.

FEB 8, 2018 MY PRIUS BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AT A REPAIR COST OF $2900. THIS EXACT FAILURE WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZG1 UP TO 10 YEARS OLD AND 150,000 MILES. MY 2006 PRIUS IS JUST OVER 11 YEARS OLD WITH 136,000 MILES. PLEASE HELP! IS ANOTHER EXTENSION OF THIS WARRANTY UPCOMING? TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION TOYOTA GULF FREEWAY (12111 GULF FREEWAY, B, HOUSTON, TX) AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

BRAKE ACTUATOR - ZG1 -TOYOTA HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKE ACTUATORS UP TO 150,000 MILES OR DECEMBER 31, 2017 AS PART OF THEIR ZG1 WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM FOR THE 2006-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. MANY CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURES ARE STILL OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART FOR VEHICLES AS YOUNG AS 6 YEARS OLD THAT ARE NOW OUTSIDE THIS WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MAY RESULT IS ACCIDENTAL INJURY OR DEATH. THIS DEFECT NOW EFFECTS MY PERSONNEL VEHICLE.

WAS GOING TO CHURCH THURS EVENING AND FAST DRIVER AHEAD OF ME IN BUSY INTERSECTION. STAYED FAR AWAY FROM HER BUT WHEN SHE SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES, I HIT MINE AS WELL KNOWING I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, EVEN THOUGH I PUMPED THEM AND THEN SLAMMED THEM ON AGAIN. (I HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE TELL ME THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR O6 PRIUS'. I ENDED UP HITTING HER CAR AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT GOING FAST (RED LIGHT UP AHEAD). I AM GOING TO SEE IF MY ACCELERATION WAS FIXED BECAUSE TRULY I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. IN FACT A MAN WHO HELPED AT THE SCENE TOLD ME TO 'TAKE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE' BUT I WAS SO SCARED THAT IF I DID THE CAR WOULD MOVE AGAIN.

DRY,CLEAR DAY. DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.RED LIGHTWITH BUS IN FRONT OF ME AND A CAR NEXT TO ME. SPEED LIMIT WAS 45MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED.. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY.I TRIED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE ONE ON THE DASH.AGAIN TO NO EFFECT. I MANAGED TO AVOID THE BUS BY DRIVING ON THE MEDIAN STRIP AND MISSED A LARGE PALM TREE. THE MOTOR STOPPED AND I COASTED ABOUT 150 FEET. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT MOVE AT ALL AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. MANAGED TO AVOID ALL VEHICLES. TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PRIUS HAD A LITTLE GLITCH IN ALL OF THEM AND MY CAR IS OK NOW. DID NOT WANT TO CHECK THE COMPUTER OR ANY PART OF MY CAR.OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM HIT A HEAVY INFORMATION TRAFFIC SIGN ON A STEEL POLE.

WHEN I DRIVING ON A DECLINE AND HIT UNEVEN GROUND OR A POT HOLE, WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AND THE BRAKING IS SUSPENDED FOR A SECOND. THIS IS A RECURRING EVENT AND CAN BE EASILY REPLICATED WITH HIGH PROBABILITY. I HAVE LISTED THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS ERROR HAS HAPPENED.

WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKE AND THE EXCLAMATION LIGHTS CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A CONTINUOUS BEEP. THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED AND I HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE WITH MY FOOT IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WENT TO DO SOME ERRANDS, LIKE 10 MINUTES LATER, I TURNED ON THE CAR. THE BRAKE AND EXCLAMATION LIGHTS WERE OFF AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BRAKE NORMALLY. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM COLLEGE, AFTER A 25 MINUTE DRIVE IN THE HIGHWAY I WENT THROUGH A SECONDARY ROAD, THE SAME PROBLEM SHOWED AGAIN, LIGHTS AND NO BRAKING POWER WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SYMPTOMS. ONCE I APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STOP THE CAR THE WHEELS LOCKED. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN IT OFF AND THE ON AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY. I STOPPED USING THE CAR AFTER THIS. PROBABLY A BRAKE ACTUATOR IS DEFECTIVE BUT THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR THIS PROBLEM, THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY DOES'NT HAVE BRAKE POWER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A WARNING WHISTLE AND A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE GENERAL EMERGENCY, ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RELAYS, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, AND BRAKE ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

WHILE PRESSING ON BRAKE WHILE GOING LOW SPEED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR ACCELERATED BEFORE BRAKING. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A PARKING GARAGE. WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. INSTEAD OF DECELERATING, THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY ACCELERATED INTO THE CEMENT BARRIER AT THE HEAD OF THE PARKING SPOT. *TR

THE ASSISTED HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP SEEMS TO NOT BE WORKING CORRECTLY, THERE'S A PUMP NOISE THAT KEEPS COMING ON IN THE CABIN, LIKE THE BRAKE PUMP CANNOT KEEP PRESSURE. IT'S A RATTLING NOISE THAT IS COMING ON AND IT'S EVERY FEW SECONDS. LIKE IT'S TRYING TO BUILD PRESSURE TO ASSIST BRAKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER SHE NOTICED THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BRAKING TIME WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STROKE SENSOR RETENTION LOGIC FAILED AND THE SPEED CONTROL ECU WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,219.

ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 AT ABOUT 8:10 A.M., I WAS DRIVING ON HOLCOMBE IN HOUSTON. THERE WAS TRAFFIC. AT ONE POINT, I NEEDED TO STOP FROM A FAIRLY LOW SPEED (PERHAPS 10 MPH), AS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED FOR A LIGHT. I BRAKE USING THE FLOOR PEDAL. BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL; IT WAS AS THOUGH I HAD NOT EVEN TOUCHED THE BRAKE. THE CAR DIDN'T HESITATE OR DIE; IT JUST CONTINUED MOVING UNTIL IT HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED AND NEITHER THE DRIVER OF THE CAR I HIT NOR I HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN INJURED. BUT HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DIFFERENT. MY PRIUS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL SAFETY RECALLS, ALL OF WHICH I'VE HAD PERFORMED. AND ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR HAD PASSED ITS ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. FROM THIS AND BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL WHEN I BRAKED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS A FUNCTION OF A BRAKE DEFECT IN THE PRIUS, PERHAPS A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REPORTED INJURED HOWEVER A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK WITH HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

MY PRIUS HAS ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, ETC. I HAVE COMPLAINED FROM DAY ONE AND ALWAYS BEEN TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. BY 2008 THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING WELL AT TIMES AND THE PEDAL WOULD GO ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AT TIMES AND NOT AT OTHERS. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THIS AND TOLD ME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. IN FEB 2008 THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN SAID THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS SINCE WITH THE PEDAL GOING ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AT TIMES AND NOT AT OTHERS. IF I HIT POTHOLES OR AM ON REALLY ROUGH STREETS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND I LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS WITH THE INABILITY TO BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATABLE SAID THERE ARE NO ISSUES WHEN THEY CHECK THE CAR. THIS WEEK, ON MONDAY, THE BATTERY DIED AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REPLACEMENT. AS ALWAYS, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AND THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE THE CAR ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY NOW (BUT WAS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED) THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEY PUT ME IN A RENTAL CAR FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS SINCE THEY SAID MY CAR WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE. TODAY THEY DECIDED THEY WEREN'T PAYING FOR THE REPAIR, AFTER TALKING WITH "CORPORATE", AND THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE REPAIR! WHEN I CHECK THE NHTSA SITE I SEE LOTS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2006 PRIUS AND AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED THAN EVER. IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO FORCE AN INVESTIGATION OF YET A NEW ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND SAFETY ISSUES! *TR

"!", ABS, AND VSC LIGHTS COME ON AND BRAKES STOP WORKING - WHILE DRIVING. MUST COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURN OFF VEHICLE, AND RESTART. THEN BRAKES WORK FOR A WHILE UNTIL PROBLEM RECURS. REPLACED BRAKE STROKE SENSOR. FIXED PROBLEM FOR 17 MONTHS - 20,000 MILES. AGAIN, BRAKES FAIL WHILE DRIVING. GETTING CODE DTC 1247 - FAULT IN STROKE SENSOR. TOLD PART IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. VEHICLE SHOULDN'T HAVE A PART THAT FAILS EVERY 20,000 MILES RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN AT 25 MPH WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000. ..UPDATED 01/04/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE REPLICATION AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. ON A RECENT RAINY DAY, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT EACH BRAKE APPLICATION AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT APPLY FOR 1-2 SECONDS. EFFECTIVELY, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES. THE ABS RELATED BRAKE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR ON BUMPY ROADS AT LOW SPEEDS WITH DRY PAVEMENT. UPDATED 01/11/12

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMPY SURFACE, OVER SMALL POTHOLES, ROUGH PATCHES ETC., THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF UNTIL THE ROAD SMOOTHS OUT.

WHEN BRAKING QUICKLY USUALLY ON ROUGH SURFACES, WET ROADS, SLOPES BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAIL AS IF NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR GIVING ME AN ADRENALINE RUSH. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR 4 YEARS THINKING IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF PRIUS. JUNE 30TH 2011, I STEERED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND WAS PARKING ON THE FIRST SPOT AT THE RIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTRY TO PARKING LOT AT THE SPEED OF 5 MPH. APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY TO CURB I WITHDREW MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND PUT ON THE BRAKES SLOWLY. I WAS EXPECTING THE CAR TO HALT PRIOR TO THE CURB LINE AS USUAL. BUT IT DID NOT STOP ON THE CONTRARY IT ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND RIGHT ON THE FENCE. THE FENCE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET FROM CURB; BEFORE IT WENT ON FENCE I LOOKED AT MY FEET AND MADE SURE IT WAS ON THE BRAKES AS COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR AND YES I AM 100% SURE IT WAS ON BRAKES. I ALSO APPLIED PARKING BRAKES AND PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE POWER, WHEN IT STOPPED OVER THE FENCE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO DEALER AS THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED 4 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AT 32,431 MILES. THE DEALER DID HEALTH CHECK SCAN TWICE TAKING 6 HOURS FOR EACH SCAN. AFTER FIRST SCAN I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD FRONT SPEED SENSORS CODES AND A LOW OR ABNORMAL HIGH BATTERY VOLTAGE. AND ADVISED TO DETECT SENSORS IN DETAILS AND REPLACE THEM AT NEXT APPOINTMENT. SECOND DAY AFTER THE MANAGER DID ANOTHER HEALTH CHECK FOR 6 HOURS, I DON'T KNOW WHY ANOTHER SCAN; AND REPORTED CODES FOR LOW BATTERY AND SPEED SENSORS AND ECU. NONE HAVE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE CUSTOMER CONCERN. THEY FINALLY BLAMED THE FLOOR MAT WHICH WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE PROBLEM. SURPRISINGLY WHEN I ASKED HOW DID THEY TAKE CARE OF THE CODES? IF SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED, THEY TOLD ME THE CODES ARE GONE NOW. THERE WERE NO DETAILS PROVIDED INSPITE OF ME ASKING SEVERAL TIMES WHY THE CAR MOVES AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. BEING A DOCTOR I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY AND PREVENTION MORE THAN ANYTHING. *TR

EVER SINCE I GOT MY 2006 PRIUS, THE BRAKES HAVE BRIEFLY STOPPED WORKING WHEN I TRY TO STOP QUICKLY OR ON A HILL WHEN IT IS WET OR ICY OUTSIDE. ON FEBRUARY 24, IT WAS VERY ICY, AND THE CAR COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHEN I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY WHEN I STARTED GOING DOWNHILL, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I TRIED TO STEER OR PUSH DOWN THE BRAKES AND I GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA, BUT THEY ONLY TESTED IT WHEN IT WAS DRY OUTSIDE, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WHEN IT WAS DRY. THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD INCREASED TROUBLE STOPPING AT STOPLIGHTS WHEN IT IS WET. THE WHOLE CAR SEEMS TO LOCK UP AND I SLIDE TOWARD THE LIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGE. I AM TRADING THE CAR IN, AS I AM AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. AS SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE BODY DAMAGES REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 07/26/11*LJ

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE ACTUATOR ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NOISES STARTED TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, WHEN PARKED AND AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF.

IF YOU USE THE BRAKES AND HAPPEN TO GO OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, SLIPPERY SPOT, ETC., THE BRAKES STOP FUNCTIONING FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006. BECAUSE IT IS A HYBRID, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SOMETHING PECULIAR TO THE CAR (THE DATE GIVEN IS AN ESTIMATE ONLY). HOWEVER, WHEN THEY MENTIONED THE BRAKE FIX FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE SAME AS I WAS EXPERIENCING. I TOLD THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE FIX WOULD BE DIFFERENT FOR MY MODEL BECAUSE THE COMPUTERS ARE DIFFERENT AND THEY HAD GOTTEN NO INFORMATION REGARDING EARLIER CARS, ONLY 2010S. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE WHEEL GOING OVER THE PROBLEM SPOT IN THE ROAD NOT FUNCTIONING, BUT THE OTHER THREE SHOULD NOT STOP WORKING, AND THAT IS EXACTLY HOW IT FEELS. I HAVE SINCE HEARD OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON WITH AN EARLIER MODEL THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL, DRY STRAIGHT ROADS, THE SKID CONTROL ACTIVATES AND THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING 1 WEEK AGO AFTER THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AT THE DEALER. CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD. DEALER STATES THAT ECU MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS COMPLETELY FAILED TO FUNCTION, DESPITE THE PEDAL BEING FULLY ENGAGED, AND I ROLLED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AT LOW SPEED. THE FIRST INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, THE SECOND WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, AGAIN, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ON BOTH OCCASIONS MY FRONT BUMPER WAS SERIOUSLY MANGLED - COSTING ME SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR AND INCREASING MY INSURANCE RATES CONSIDERABLY - WHILE THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE. MY NECK IS EXTREMELY STIFF AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR. *TR

IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS TO TAKE THE FAMILY TO LUNCH. I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, I WAS ON THE CEL PHONE, AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK AND I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK WHO WAS OUT IN THE INTERSECTION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE PRIUS. MY WIFE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING FOR MONTHS THAT THE PRIUS HAD BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENTS ONCE A MONTH. I WOULD TEST DRIVE THE CAR, AND COULD NOT GET THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THAT IS UNTIL THE INCIDENT MENTIONED ABOVE HAPPENED. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. I INFORMED THEM THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH BEFORE THEY COULD GET THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A MONTH, BUT DID NOT TEST IT AS I RECOMMENDED......AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM, FORCING ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR $1,566.57....AS WELL AS FOR THE $1,440.38 RENTAL CAR BILL. I IMMEDIATELY PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE IT TO ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS DEALERSHIP AND TRADED IT IN ON HONDA ACCORD. THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO RISK MY FAMILIES LIVES, DRIVING THAT CAR ANOTHER DAY. STATE FARM CLAIM NUMBER #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 06-WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY OVER ROUGH ROADS, THEY SEEM TO MOMENTARILY FAIL BEFORE SLOWING THE VEHICLE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM REPORTED FOR THE 2010 MODEL YEAR. THE LOCAL TOYOTA GARAGE SAID THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MODEL. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH. THE VIN NUMBER FOR THE CAR IS [XXX] *TR

WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN SURFACE OR GRATE OR SLIPPERY SURFACE WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) AND/OR VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL/TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THESE SYSTEMS DO SO, IT FEELS LIKE I LOSE ALL BRAKING POWER AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATES. IT IS MOST APPARENT WHEN IT IS WET OUT, BUT I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN EVEN IN DRY CONDITIONS. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE ABS, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE CORRECTING THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR 2010 PRIUSES THROUGH A SOFTWARE CHANGE--BUT NOT ANY OTHER YEAR MODELS. *TR

FREQUENTLY WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE THERE SEEMS TO BE UNEVEN APPLICATION THAT CAUSES A SLIPPAGE AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SHUDDER AND SHIMMY A BIT MAKING THE BRAKING SEEM LIKE IT IS FAILING AND INCREASING THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS FROM DAY ONE AND THE DEALER HAS ASSURED ME THAT IT IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE HAD WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. *TR

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED AT THE TIME I GO OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR ROUGH ROAD SUCH AS POTHOLES, THE BRAKES FEELS LIKE THEY DISENGAGE FOR A SHORT TIME ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS (PURCHASED NEW IN 2006). SOMETIMES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON MOMENTARILY BUT NOT ALWAYS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006. I REPORTED IT TO MY TOYOTA CAR DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD "THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT." NOT IN ANY OF MY OTHER CARS THAT HAVE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. TOO BAD TOYOTA JUST CANT TELL THE TRUTH EVER. THIS IS ABNORMAL BRAKING BEHAVIOR. *TR

WHILE BRAKING HARDER OR MORE SUDDENLY THAN NORMAL (USUALLY ON DOWNHILL) THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM KICKS IN, BUT FOR A SECOND OR TWO THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THE DISENGAGE AND THEN GO ON AGAIN. FOR A SPLIT SECOND EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS IT MAKES ME HAVE A FLUSH OF PANIC. *TR

WHENEVER BRAKE IS BEING APPLIED AT THE TIME I GO OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR ROUGH ROAD SUCH AS POTHOLES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SHORT TIME ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED NEW IN 2006.. MY HUSBAND'S SUBURU FORESTER DOES NOT GIVE THIS UNSETTLING FEELING, AS IF LOSING CONTROL, WHEN IN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING MODE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, ON AN OCCASIONAL BASIS. I REPORTED IT TO MY TOYOTA CAR DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND WAS TOLD "THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT." I SUSPECT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE REGENERATION OF THE ELECTRIC BATTERY WHILE BRAKING SINCE THIS IS A DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE WHEN EXITING FREEWAY (101) ONTO OFF RAMP AT RENGSDORFF AVE., IN MOUNTAIN VIEW. ROADWAY WAS SLIGHTLY MOIST FROM LIGHT MORNING DRIZZLE AND ACCUMULATED OILS ON ROAD BUT OTHERWISE NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT ROAD CONDITIONS... EXITED FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES BUT BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND CAR SKIDDED OFF THE OFF RAMP INTO A SWALE... CAR BECAME STUCK IN SWALE AND SUFFERED BODY DAMAGE TO LEFT SIDE OF CAR...A TOW TRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED TO DRAG IT OUT OF THE SWALE...THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WHO DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND STONEWALLED ME...ALSO REPORTED BRAKE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS (CARLOS A. GARCIA) IN TORRANCE, CA AND HE WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE PROBLEM IN THE 2006 PRIUS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR, RENTAL CAR, TOWING , ETC. WAS APPROXIMATELY $5,400.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT TIRE TRAVELED OVER A SMALL PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SPUN TOWARD THE FRONT SO THAT THE CONTACT WAS THEN FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED SLIDING AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED COLLISION REPAIR SHOP, WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR WET ROADS THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

1996 TOYOTA PRIUS - (3) THINGS I HAVE NOTICED WHEN OPERATING CAR. (1) WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT, CAR WILL BEHAVE AS THOUGH IT IS HYDROPLANEING - THE BRAKES NOT SLOWING THE CAR FOR A BRIEF PERIOD UNTIL CAR SETTLES DOWN. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN GOING AS SLOW AS 5 MPH. THE FASTER ONE IS GOING WHEN HITTING THE ROUGH PAVEMENT, THE FARTHER THE CAR WILL TRAVEL BEFORE BRAKING SENSATION RE-APPEARS. I BELIEVE THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME I TRAVEL ROUGH PAVEMENT (LA CITY STREETS, NOT BACK COUNTRY OR 4 WHEELING). NOTE THAT WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD DOES LIGHT SUGGESTING LOSS OF CONTROL. I CALLED DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND DESCRIBED PROBLEM, THEY ASSURED ME THAT NO SAFETY WARNINGS OR RECALLS HAD BEEN MADE. 2) WHEN TURNING OFF CRUISE CONTROL, CAR WILL ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN TRYING TO EXIT CARPOOL LANE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND SPACING IS LIMITED. AGAIN CALLED DEALERSHIP AND ASSURED NO SAFETY NOTICES OR RECALLS. I NOW COVER BRAKE WHEN TURNING OFF SPEED CONTROL. 3) CAR JUST EATS UP HID HEADLIGHT (9 IN 80K MILES + 2 ORIGINAL INSTALLED) AND TAILLIGHT BULBS (11 + 2 ORIGINALLY INSTALLED). AGAIN NO SAFETY NOTICES OR RECALLS. I REPLACE THEM AS I NOTICE THEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT ONCE AS DESCRIBED ON YOUR WEBSITE. NOTE THAT OTHER THAN THE ABOVE ISSUES/CONCERNS, THIS CAR HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR WITH NO SERVICE EXCEPT FOR GAS, OIL CHANGES, AND REPLACE THE BULBS WHEN THEY GO OUT. *TR

BRAKES FAILED TEMPORARILY AND MOMENTARILY WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSTATE ON-RAMP. THIS IS NOT AT ALL THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. WHEN BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, ESPECIALLY DOUBLE SETS OF TRACKS, IT HAS BEEN COMMON THAT IT WOULD FEEL AS IF I WAS SAILING OVER THE TRACKS -- DEFINITELY NOT SLOWING DOWN (EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES) BUT MAYBE EVEN SPEEDING UP. THAT TOO WAS THE FEELING I HAD, ALBEIT MOMENTARILY, LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS BRAKING OVER POTHOLES. *TR

WHEN I GO OVER A ROUGH PATCH ON THE PAVEMENT WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2006 PRIUS, THE SKID LIGHT COMES ON BRIEFLY ON THE DASH AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IT FEELS LIKE THE COMPUTER IS PERCEIVING THE POSSIBILITY OF A SKID AND IS COMPENSATING BY ACCELERATING UNTIL THE PAVEMENT IS SMOOTH. FORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS BEEN IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I HAVEN'T HIT ANYONE. BUT IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND IT TAKES A TIME BEFORE THE CAR RESPONDS TO MY OWN HANDLING AND BRAKES AGAIN. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT AND WANT FROM ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) TO:NHTSA.WEBMASTER@DOT.GOV FROM:[XXX] SUBJECT:2006 PRIUS BRAKES COMMENTS: I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE PROBLEMS(I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER IN 2007). THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING BEFORE ACTUALLY STOPPING THE CAR. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TOYOTA BRAKE RECALLS, I NOW HAVE CONCERNS THAT MY CAR MAY ALSO HAVE BRAKES THAT MAY FAIL. [XXX] *TR

I HAVE 2006 PRIUS AND I HAVE BRAKE FAILURE FREQUENTLY IF I HIT A BUMP, POT HOLE, MANHOLE COVER, RAILROAD TRACK ETC. IT IS UN-NERVING AS I FEEL AS IF I AM AIRBORNE FOR A WHILE AS I KNOW I HAVE NO CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. *TR

I AM A RURAL MAIL CARRIER WITH WELL OVER 350,000 MILES DRIVEN ON MY ROUTE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I DRIVE IN ALL ROAD CONDITIONS ON GRAVEL AND PAVED ROADS. I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS ON A WET BUT NOT MUDDY GRAVEL ROAD AT ABOUT 38 MPH. THE BACK END BEGAN TO SLIDE A LITTLE. I LET UP ON THE GAS WITH NO RESPONSE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESPONSE. I WENT INTO A DEEP DITCH FILLED WITH 3 FT TALL GRASS. I STEERED TO DRIVE THE CENTER OF THE DITCH AND CONTINUED WITH THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED FOR ABOUT 15-20 FT, RIPPING THE TALL GRASS OUT BY THE ROOT AS I WENT. THE CAR TRAVELED OVER A DRIVEWAY APPROACH, STILL AT 35 MPH, STRIKING THE APPROACH WITH THE LEFT FRONT CORNER WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRAME AND DO OTHER SERIOUS DAMAGE, BUT WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I CONTINUED OVER THE APPROACH AND DOWN THE DITCH, STILL AT 35 MPH, FOR ANOTHER 30 OR MORE FEET. I WAS PRESSING AND HOLDING THE BRAKE AND LIFTING THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY TOE. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK AND THE ENGINE'S RPMS WERE LOW. ONLY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL DID IT SLOW TO STOP. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THIS DITCH AS THE TRACTION CONTROL KEPT LURCHING AND STALLING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT AND HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR OVER $4000 IN REPAIRS. THIS WAS IN MID-2008 AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY CORRECTIONS MADE OR WERE EVEN KNOWN AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING SITUATION. THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY ACTION I TOOK. I HAD NO CONTROL WHAT SO EVER. THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVEN.. *TR

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I WENT OVER A POTHOLE AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD BRIEFLY. UNSURE IF AN ACCELERATION ISSUE OR A BRAKING ISSUE. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT HAS BEEN MINOR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY IGNORED MOST OF MY EMAILS TO MY SURPRISE AND DISAPPOINTMENT. TODAY, I TURNED THE CORNER AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE. I FELT IT LURCH, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I PUMPED THEM AND NO BRAKES. I PUSHED THE ON/OFF BUTTON AND HELD IT FOR THE 3 SECONDS THEY RECOMMEND AND IT DID NOT TURN OFF THE CAR. IT TOOK OVER 5 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY TURNING OFF AND I COASTED TO A STOP. IT WAS TERRIFYING!!! ONCE I CALMED DOWN AND TRIED TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT TURN ON AND THEN ONCE IT DID, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE ... ONLY NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT INTO DRIVE TO GET HOME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA ON AMHERST DR. IN SPRINGFIELD, VA AND SPOKE. HE SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. I LET HIM KNOW HOW DISPLEASED I WAS AND HE WAS KIND AND SAID HE'LL TALK TO HIS BOSS IN THE MORNING. I HAVE TOLD TOYOTA THAT I AM AFRAID OF MY CAR ........ UPGRADE THAT TO TERRIFIED! THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EVENT. THE 2010 CAR OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THOSE OF USE WITH AN EARLIER MODEL OF THIS CAR. IT'S NOT THE FLOOR MATS. IT'S NOT THE STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT'S THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM AND I NEED TO HAVE TOYOTA RESPECT MY SAFETY TOO AND SUPPORT THIS DANGEROUS CAR THAT I'M STUCK WITH. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. *TR

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD OR A POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING FEEL BEFORE IT RETURNS, SEEMS TO BE A SLIGHTLY LESS THAN A SECOND DELAY WHERE THE BRAKES JUST CUT OUT. THIS SOUNDS TO BE RELATED TO THE ISSUE TOYOTA AND NHTSA ARE INVESTIGATING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT MINE IS A 2006 AND SEEMS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME SYMPTOMS. *TR

WE HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE BRAKES FEEL THAT THEY GIVE OUT WHEN A BUMP IS HIT. OUR DEALER SAYS THAT TOYOTA SAYS TO PUSH HARDER ON THE PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 8 OR 10 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THE CAR DOES STOP BUT YOUR AREN'T SURE IT WILL. *TR

ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN 2007. I WAS DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC ON A TWO LANE ROAD. A CAR, TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME, SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, AND FORCED EVERYONE ELSE TO QUICKLY BRAKE. I ALSO SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, TO AVOID A COLLISION. MY BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND IN TIME, AND RESULTED IN MY REAR ENDING AN SUV IN FRONT OF ME. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2006. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 40 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED THE SPEED IT WAS TRAVELING. HE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT THEN IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE SPEED DECREASED SLOWLY AND HE CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL INTO THE FLOORBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PEDAL OR THE BRAKES AND THAT HE SHOULD REMOVE THE FLOOR MATS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FLOOR MATS WERE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. ON TWO ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. HE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN REGARDS TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V388000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HOWEVER, HE WAS NOT AWARE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR NOT. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH ON A SIDE STREET DURING BROAD DAYLIGHT. I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO STOP BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR - RATHER IT JUST REMAINED IN THE NORMAL DEPRESSED CONDITION AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR AT ALL. I THEN PUMPED THE BRAKE AND IT FINALLY ENGAGED ON THE THIRD TRY ALTHOUGH I WAS ALREADY THRU THE STOP SIGN AND INTO THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO CARS AHEAD OF ME NOR WAS THERE ANY CROSS TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTION. THERE WAS NO SNOW OR ICE ON THE GROUND. MY CAR IS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 24,400 MILES TRAVELED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2006. A FOLLOW UP CHECK OF THE BRAKES ON TUESDAY AT A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER ON THE 16TH RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING" "CHECKED FOR DIAGNOSTIC CODES - EVERYTHING FINE." HARDLY CALMING. THE PAD WEAR INDICATOR WAS NOT DISPLAYED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS MORE THAN 5 MPH OVER RUMBLE STRIPS IN THE ROAD, IF THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THEY WOULD NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. AN UNKNOWN WARNING SYMBOL BRIEFLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THE CONTACT ASSUMED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR HER BRAKING SYSTEM. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURES. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 35,700.

NHTSA ID: 193333 I UNDERSTAND THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IS INVESTIGATING A BRAKING ISSUE ON 2010 PRIUSES -- INVOLVING SLIPPING OR SURGING FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE 2010 MODEL; OUR 2006 PRIUS SLIPS IN THE SAME WAY, UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES: WHEN THE DRIVER BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS ON A WET SURFACE LIKE A LIGHT RAIL TRACK, OR GOES OVER BUMPS OR INTO POTHOLES WHILE BRAKING. IT FEELS AS IF THERE ARE NO BRAKES, AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ON FLAT STREETS -- NEVER ON HILLS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THE TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME ANY VEHICLE WILL DO THIS, BUT THE ANOMALY IS ONE I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN ANY OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED, INCLUDING 2 TOYOTAS. IN OTHER WORDS, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE THE DEALERS SAY THERE IS NO DEFECT. "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE" QUESTION BELOW MAKES NO SENSE, BECAUSE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. ALSO, "MILEAGE" INFORMATION IS USELESS, SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. *TR

BRAKES SEEM TO FADE OR RELEASE UPON STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE JUST GIVES UP FOR A SECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THE ROAD WAS SLICK BUT IT HAS HAPPENED 20 TIMES. I USED THE YESTERDAYS DATE SINCE. *TR

ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, WHEN I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY STRETCH OF ROAD, THE BRAKES HAVE NOT APPLIED PROPERLY ON MY 2006 PRIUS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATING A SKID WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT HANDLE PROPERLY. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID IT WAS A COMMON FEATURE OF ABS SYSTEMS. I HAVE COMPENSATED BY NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR POTHOLE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE BRAKES SHOULD WORK IN ANY SUCH SITUATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, MOST RECENTLY SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. IN EACH CASE, THE ROAD SURFACES WERE NOT WET, JUST BUMPY. *TR

I DRIVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ODD SKID-LIKE BEHAVIOR WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ON BUMPY ROADS OR LOOSE GRAVEL. MOST NOTABLY THIS HAPPENS AT LOW AND DECELERATING VELOCITIES (MAYBE 15 MPH?) WHEN THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS BROKEN PAVEMENT OR LOOSE GRAVEL. IT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRIUS' 'SLIPPERY SURFACE' ICON ON THE DASH BEING LIT. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT, BUT THE EXPERIENCE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 4 TIMES OVER THE FOUR MONTHS I'VE OWNED IT. ALSO, THE FRONT HID HEADLAMPS FLICKER ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I WILL REPORT THESE PROBLEMS TO TOYOTA AND BASED ON THE HIGH VOLUME OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD COVER THE COST OF FIXING THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. IF I HIT A POTHOLE WHILE I AM BRAKING, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES SLIP FOR A SECOND AND I LOSE MY ABILITY TO BRAKE WHILE THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. A SECOND LATER EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL. THE VSA LIGHT FLASHES CONCURRENTLY WITH THE INCIDENT. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES IT HAPPENED, IT REALLY SCARED ME, AND I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. NOW I MAKE SURE TO LEAVE MORE THAN THE NORMAL SPACE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN CASE THIS HAPPENS. I JUST ASSUMED THIS WAS SOMETHING THE CAR DID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO, BUT NOW THAT THE 2010 PRIUS RECALL HAS BEEN PUBLICIZED, THE ISSUE BEING DESCRIBED THERE SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM MY CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD. *TR

WHEN DRIVING ON ROADS THAT ARE CURVED, WHEN CHANGING LANES, OR ON STREETS THAT ARE WET, THE CAR FEELS UNBALANCED, AND REQUIRES A QUICK STEERING ADJUSTMENT TO REGAIN NORMAL OPERATION. INCIDENTS LIKE THESE OCCUR TOO FREQUENTLY, AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK, AND WHEN THEY OCCUR, THE VEHICLE'S RED SKID LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED (I SUPPOSE IT IS RELATED TO THIS MODEL'S ANTI-SKID AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE THAT WAS NOT STANDARD EQUIPMENT). TRACTION CONTROL WAS AN OPTIONAL FEATURE THAT THE DEALERSHIPS OFFERED IN MORE EXPENSIVE PACKAGES OF THE 2006 PRIUS BUNDLED TOGETHER WITH OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO DRIVING SAFETY, WHICH MADE THE PACKAGES UNNECESSARILY EXPENSIVE, AND WAS A FACTOR IN MY DECISION TO NOT OPT FOR THIS UPGRADE. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE, I FELT THE NEED TO REPORT THIS IN CASE OTHER DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES. THE DATE I HAVE SELECTED CORRESPONDS TO THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE, NOT TO ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT, AS THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. FYI, TIRES, BRAKES, STEERING, AND ALIGNMENT HAVE ALL BEEN CHECKED AND MAINTAINED AS PER TOYOTA'S SUGGESTED GUIDELINES. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND FOR YEARS I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS. AT TIMES WHEN I DRIVE OVER BUMPY TERRAIN, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON. I CAN RE-GAIN CONTROL BY HITTING THE BRAKES HARD AND/OR PUMPING THE BRAKES DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN JANUARY 2006. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I'M NOT SURE IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED OR NOT, BUT IF THEY WERE, THEY WERE APPLIED LIGHTLY. THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY. *TR

I EXPERIENCE SURGING WHEN BRAKING. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING PROBLEM THAT IS REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR (SINCE 2006). OCCASIONALLY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND WHEN BRAKING OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE (TRAIN TRACKS ETC). BY NOW I AM USED TO THE PROBLEM THOUGH IT DOES SEEM TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY OVER TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY NOT CONFINED TO THE 2010 MODEL. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW, BUT THIS IS A FREQUENTLY RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE RECALL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. "THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE AN "INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL" DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON ROUGH OR SLIPPERY SURFACES. THE ABS IS OPERATING AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO." I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE IT HAS CAUSED OR ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE ONE TIME. PLEASE LOOK INTO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. *TR

WE OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE MODEL YEAR 2010 RECALL. ON FEBRUARY 8TH, MY WIFE (WITH OUR INFANT IN THE BACK SEAT) WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH A BUMPY INTERSECTION AND FOR A SPLIT SECOND LOST BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS SCARY. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME CONDITION MORE THAN ONCE LAST YEAR DURING SNOWY/SLUSHY CONDITIONS. *TR

THIS IS ABOUT THE 2006 PRIUS. IF I AM BRAKING AND HIT A BUMP, THE CAR MOMENTARILY LOSING BRAKING POWER AND DOES NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE BRAKES KICK IN AGAIN. I HAVE DESCRIBED THIS PROBLEM TO TWO OTHER GENERATION II PRIUS OWNERS AND THEY HAVE SAID THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING, ONE AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN YESTERDAY. I WILL PUT TODAY'S DATE BECAUSE I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY COMING DOWN A HILL WITH SOME OLD ROADWORK ON IT. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER FIRST IN 2007. NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR

WHEN I GENTLY APPLY THE BRAKE TO STOP AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. IN SURPRISE, I APPLY GREATER FORCE AND THE CAR COMES TO A STOP. THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONICS IN THE HYBRID DRIVE TRAIN THAT DOES NOT FULLY DISCONNECT THE DRIVE WHEN STOPPING. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR FIND ANY PROBLEM. THEY WOULD NOT REPORT OR ESCALATE IT FURTHER, JUST DISMISSED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER, SHUT OFF AND SHE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY WHICH SHE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SECOND DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WHICH A CODE PRODUCED CITED THAT A BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY HER. ON 3 OCCASIONS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF THEN THE HORN WOULD HONK FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

THE ABS HAS CAUSED THE BRAKES ON MY CAR TO DISENGAGE WHEN THEY SHOULD BE ENGAGED. I NOTIFIED THE TOYOTA DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. IN LIGHT OF RECENT INFORMATION THAT HAS COME TO THE PUBLIC AWARENESS, I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO LOOK FURTHER BACK INTO THE ORIGIN OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I DRIVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ODD SKID-LIKE BEHAVIOR WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ON BUMPY ROADS OR LOOSE GRAVEL. MOST NOTABLY THIS HAPPENS AT LOW AND DECELERATING VELOCITIES (MAYBE 15 MPH?) WHEN THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS BROKEN PAVEMENT OR LOOSE GRAVEL. IT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRIUS' 'SLIPPERY SURFACE' ICON ON THE DASH BEING LIT. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT, BUT THE EXPERIENCE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES OVER THE YEAR I'VE OWNED IT. MOST OF THE TIMES THAT IT HAS HAPPENED HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME INTERSECTION. *TR

IF I HIT A POT HOLE OR BUMP WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS SLIDING. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS EXHIBITS THE SAME LOSS OF BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACES THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MANY OCCASIONS, WHEN BRAKING A LOW, CITY-DRIVING SPEEDS. WHEN I HIT A BUMP, THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKING. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR "SLIPS" FORWARD FOR A MOMENT. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, NOR HAS IT RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION, SO I HAVE NOT THOUGHT TO REPORT IT PREVIOUSLY. HOWEVER, WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2010 PRIUS RECALL, I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF THE BRAKING PROBLEM IN PRIOR YEAR MODELS. I AM SURE THAT THERE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2006 PRIUS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME LACK OF BRAKING. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE BRAKE SYSTEM APPEARS TO FAIL MOMENTARILY WHEN SLOWING AND BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES. THIS OCCURS ROUTINELY (WEEKLY) WHEN TURNING A SPECIFIC CORNER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE THE ROAD IS UNEVEN. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IF I HIT A BUMP, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT "SPEEDS UP" AND LOOSES CONTROL. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM I'VE HAD SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR PRIUS IN 2006. I'VE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA ITSELF. *TR

LOSE BRAKES MOMENTARILY WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE SUCH AS RAILROAD TRACKS, POT HOLES ETC. ABS LIGHT FLASHES THEN BRAKING RETURNS AS LONG AS BRAKE PEDAL STAYS DEPRESSED. THIS HAS OCCURRED FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT MY CAR AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FUNCTION OF ABS BRAKES UNTIL I SAW THE DESCRIPTION OF THE 2010 PRIUS RECALL. *TR

MY SECOND GENERATION TOYOTA PRIUS (2006) HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKE SLIPPAGE THAT IS BEING REPORTED FOR 3RD GENERATION PRIUS'. WHENEVER I GO OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, I TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OVER THE BRAKES AND A WARNING LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD.

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID AND I WANT TO OFFICIALLY NOTE THAT THE BREAKING PROBLEM BEING DISCUSSED IN THE MEDIA IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 2010 MODEL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AS I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND EACH TIME THEY SIMPLY NOTED THAT THE BREAKS SHOULD BE WORKING FINE. THE ISSUE IS THAT AT SLOW SPEEDS AND TRAVELING OVER UNEVEN OR BUMPY SURFACES, THE PRIUS DOES NOT BREAK AS IT SHOULD. INSTEAD, THE CAR SEEMS TO JERK AND MOVE FORWARD WITH A SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

WHEN I DRIVE OVER POT HOLES OR UNEVEN SURFACES AND APPLY MY BRAKES, THEY DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO BEFORE RE-ENGAGING, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD MOMENTARILY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AND OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS. I ASKED THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO FIX IT, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, SO HAD NO WAY OF FIXING IT (EVEN THOUGH I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT WAS HAPPENING). AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA.

MY CONCERN IS WITH THE BRAKING CAPACITY IN MY 2006 PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR (I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER), THAT WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS, ROUGH ROADS (INCLUDING ICE /SNOW), AND MY FOOT IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE, THERE IS A JERKING SENSATION AND THE CAR FAILS TO STOP. IN FACT, IT LURCHES FORWARD. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PHENOMENON WITH OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, BUT NOT UNTIL THE LATEST SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, HAVE I TAKEN ACTION. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NEVER A CAR OR A PEDESTRIAN IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS OCCURED. I AM PUTTING YESTERDAYS DATE AS THE DATE OF INCIDENT, HOWEVER THIS HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *CN

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES GENTLY, ON A MODEST DOWNGRADE, BRAKING EFFECTS STOPS FOR A SECOND OR TWO THEN KICKS IN HARD. THE ANTI-SKID BRAKING LIGHT FLICKERS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS HAPPENS TO ME CONSISTENTLY AT THE SAME LOCATION NEAR OUR HOME: NORTHBOUND, RIGHT-LANE, ON 10TH AVE E, APPROACHING E. ROANOKE ST IN SEATTLE. I HAVE COME TO EXPECT IT NOW, AND TAKE MEASURES TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS ETC. IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT. IT IS MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IF I HIT A BUMPY PATCH OF PAVEMENT AT THE TIME. *CN

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT MORE THAN JUST THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN TERMS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS WITH THE SAME ISSUE - LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASE BUT I HAVE NEVER REPORTED AS I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO THE ABS/HYBRID BATTERY RELATIONSHIP. *TW

I READ ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH MOMENTARY BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THE 2010 PRIUS ON BUMPY ROADS. HAVE YOU INVESTIGATED EARLIER MODEL YEARS? I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES. *TW

I OWN A SECOND GENERATIONPRIUS (2006), AND IT HAS THE SAME BRAKE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED BY THE OWNERS OF THE 3RD GENERATION MODEL. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE GOING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE, THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A QUIRKY CHARACTERISTIC OF THE HYBRID, SO I HAVE LEARNED TO COMPENSATE BY GIVING MYSELF AN UNUSUALLY LARGE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, AS PEOPLE CUT IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE GAP IS LARGE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES WITH ME ALMOST REAR-ENDING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO THIS BRAKE PROBLEM. I HOPE THE NHTSA IS LOOKING AT ALL MODELS OF THE PRIUS FOR THIS DEFECT. IN MY FORM BELOW, I CHECKED AIR AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE DROP DOWN BOX. *CN

OVER THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS I'VE TAKEN MY PRIUS TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE WITH CONCERN OVER MY BRAKING SYSTEM THREE TIMES. TWICE THE HEAD OF SERVICE MECHANICS HAS DRIVEN WITH ME SEEING NOTHING UNUSUAL, THE THIRD TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK THE CAR OUT WITH ME. THEY ALL VOWED NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE REASON I'VE BEEN SO CONCERNED WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T RESPOND FAST ENOUGH AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WITH WET PAVEMENT OR RAINING, PRESSING THE BRAKES WITH AUTHORITY, THE CAR WILL GO INTO A SLIGHT SKID WITH THE DASH SKID LIGHT COMING ON. THIS ENTIRE SENARIO HAS CAUSED ME TO BE OVERLY CAUTIOUS WHEN BRAKING ANYTIME AND IN ANY SITUATION. IF A QUICK ACTION IS NEEDED FOR SPEEDY BRAKING I QUESTION WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. IT APPEARS THE PEOPLE AT TOYOTA HAVE JUST TRIED TO APPEASE ME NOT BELIEVING NOR UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S BEEN IN ERROR. I DON'T FEEL SO INADEQUATE NOW THAT ALL THE CURRENT INFORMATION HAS COME TO LIGHT. WAS BEGINNING TO THINK I WAS THE COMPLAINER WITHOUT CAUSE. I LOVE MY CAR - BUT AM NOW EVEN MORE HESITANT ABOUT IT'S SAFETY. MUST ADMIT, I'M FAR MORE CAREFUL THAN EVER, BEING ON THE LOOKOUT FOR POSSIBLE BRAKING SITUATIONS IN ADVANCE. *CN

I DRIVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2006. IT HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ANY OFFICIAL RECALLS OTHER THAN THE MAP RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM WRITING THAT THIS CAR SUFFERS FROM THE SAME BRAKE DEFECT WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY REPORTED ON IN THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS. THAT IS, WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR A SLIPPERY SURFACE, THE BRAKES DISENGAGE AS A RESULT OF THE STABILIZATION SYSTEM. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY, BUT I HAVE BECOME RELATIVELY USE TO IT, SUCH THAT IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME ANYMORE, THOUGH I KNOW IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. SO FAR I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL PROBLEM WITH IT DECLARED. I HOPE THIS CHANGES. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION UNTIL THE NEWS STORIES CAME OUT. I DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE TRACKS. THE LIGHT INDICATING ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS CAME ON AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE THE TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE BRAKES TAKING HOLD. IT STARTLED ME, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR - THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HIT ROUGH ROAD AND TRIED TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. MY REACTION WAS TO AVOID THAT SCENARIO BY ADJUSTING MY DRIVING, BUT NOW I'M WONDERING IF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO THE 2010 PRIUS. I HAVEN'T TRIED TO REPEAT THAT SEQUENCE, BUT I DO THINK OTHER PRIUS MODELS SHOULD BE TESTED. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE ABS CABLE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CABLE WAS DAMAGED. THE REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT THE DAMAGE MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF DRIVING OFF-ROAD, BUT I'VE NEVER DRIVEN THE CAR OFF-ROAD. ONLY ON PAVEMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE ABS CABLE OR NOT. I STILL HAVE THE DAMAGED CABLE. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS COMPLETELY LOSES BRAKING WHEN I RUN OVER ROUGH ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN MARCH OF 2006. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS LIGHT AND MY WHEELS WERE ACTUALLY JUMPING OFF THE GROUND, BUT WITH THE SAFETY RECALL OF NEW 2010 PRIUSES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS, I REALIZED THIS IS A SYSTEM PROBLEM. *TR

I'M FILING THIS AS IT MAY RELATE TO YOUR CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC). I'VE NOTICED THAT, AT TIMES WHEN THE ESC IS ACTIVATED BY A BUMPY/SLIPPERY ROAD, THAT ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES (VIA THE PEDAL) AT THAT MOMENT (SHORTLY AFTER THE ESC HAS ACTIVATED, PER THE DASHBOARD LIGHT) WILL SOMETIMES "FAIL". THE "FAILURE" BEING THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR (OFTEN WITH A 'CLUNK' NOISE - MAYBE THE BRAKE PEDAL HITTING THE FLOOR?) WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE BRAKES. I'VE FOUND, EVERY TIME, THAT RELEASING AND RE-DEPRESSING THE PEDAL ACTIVATES THE BRAKES WITHOUT FAIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SO THE "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE" I'VE ENTERED IS A BEST GUESS OF THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE - CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES FORWARD WHEN BRAKING AND RUNNING OVER A DISCONTINUITY IN THE ROAD OR WET PAVEMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SURGED AND LUNGED FORWARD; YET, THE BRAKES BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38800.

BRAKES MOMENTARILY STOP WORKING WHILE BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES SUCH AS HITTING A CRACK OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, BRAKING OVER A MANHOLE COVER, ETC. I WILL LOOSE BREAKING FOR ABOUT 1 FULL SECOND. I HAVE ALMOST HIT MULTIPLE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT SO FAR HAVE STOPPED JUST IN TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. TOYOTA IGNORES MY COMPLAINTS, AS THEY SAY IT IS PART OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKES AND HOW THEY OPERATE, OR THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WHEN THEY TEST IT. IT IS NOT NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKES!!!! I KNOW HOW ANTILOCK BRAKES WORK AND THEY DON'T LET THE CAR GO WITH OUT BRAKE FOR A FULL SECOND OR MORE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED FOR THE 2010 MODELS, WHEN I APPLY BRAKES ON A BUMPY OR ROUGH ROAD. I NOTICE IT MOST AT AN INTERSECTION IN MY TOWN - I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BEGIN SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT, THE CAR STARTS TO SLOW, I HIT A PATCH OF ROUGH ROAD, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S ACCELERATING (ITS RATE OF SLOWING IS LESS, SO IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ACCELERATING), THEN THE BRAKES "KICK IN" AGAIN AND SLOW THE CAR. VERY SURPRISING THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED BUT IN THREE YEARS IT'S HAPPENED SO OFTEN I HARDLY EVEN NOTICE IT. I DIDN'T ASSOCIATE IT WITH BUMPY ROADS UNTIL READING RECENT ARTICLES ON THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKE ISSUE. NO ACCIDENTS YET BUT I HESITATE TO LET OTHERS DRIVE MY PRIUS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO 2010 MODELS! I PUT JAN 1 2009 AS "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE" BECAUSE YOU WON'T ACCEPT THIS FORM WITHOUT A SINGLE SPECIFIC DATE, BUT IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE AT LEAST MARCH 2006 THROUGH JANUARY 2010. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE CAR HAS ELECTRIC OR HYDRAULIC BRAKES SO I PICKED "SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC". VERY UNCLEAR CATEGORY NAMES FOR "VEHICLE INFORMATION - DETAILS". *TR

IF I HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2006 PRIUS, THE BRAKES GIVE-OUT AND I HAVE RE-BRAKE. IT ONLY HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS,AND ONLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POT-HOLE. WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 YEARS AGO, THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND I SHOULD JUST RE-APPLY THE BRAKES. IT STILL HAPPENS TODAY. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I AM BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD, OR OVER A POTHOLE, THE BRAKE WILL CUT OUT FOR A BRIEF PERIOD, LEADING TO A SENSATION OF SLIDING. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THE INCIDENT DATE IS JUST AN APPROXIMATION OF THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. *TR

WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER ROUGH SURFACES THE BRAKES WON'T ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR I DROVE INTO AN INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. I ASKED A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND HE SAID THAT IS JUST HOW THE CAR IS, SO NOTHING WAS DONE. IT HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006, SO THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS IRRELEVANT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN SLICK CONDITIONS AT ROUGHLY 15 MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION TWO STOPPED CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FOR THE BRAKES. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND STILL NO RESPONSE AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS MY BRAKES RETURNED. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE STOPPED AUDI IN FRONT OF ME I TURNED MY WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE UP ON THE SIDEWALK, MY BRAKES RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TOO FAR ON THE SIDEWALK. THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL SLIDE FROM SLICK CONDITIONS I HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM MY BRAKES AT ALL NOT ABS PUMP AT ALL, NOTHING. *TR

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT I READ IN THE NYTIMES: "IN THE UNITED STATES, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS LOGGED AT LEAST 136 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THE 2010 PRIUS. MANY ARE FROM DRIVERS WHO SAY THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD OR TEMPORARILY LOST BRAKING AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR OTHER UNEVEN SURFACE, AND MANY SAY IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM." UNTIL I READ THIS, I THOUGHT THAT IT HAD BEEN MY IMAGINATION, BECAUSE IT WAS TEMPORARY, MILDLY DISTURBING, BUT DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY DAMAGE. I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SPORADICALLY SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR MARCH 15, 2006, PROBABLY NO MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES IN MORE THAN 100,000 MILES LOGGED. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I READ TODAY'S NEWS ABOUT PRIUS BRAKE ISSUES AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE SAME HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A DEFECT, AND DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT. WHEN I BRAKE, AND THERE IS A BUMP OR POTHOLE ON THE ROAD, THE CARS TIRES SEEM TO SKID FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THE VEHICLE SKID INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON A WHILE THE CAR JERKS FORWARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS INCLUDING 10 MPH OVER POTHOLES AND MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE BRAKES LOST TRACTION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE FLOOR MATS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 04/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING WHEN MAKING A TURN AT A SLOW SPEED OR DRIVING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. UPDATED 06/28/10*JB

BRAKE FAILURE IN PRIUS 2006 MODEL. CAR DID NOT STOP NEAR A SIGNAL LIGHT, AND WOULD HAVE HIT ANOTHER CAR INFRONT OF MINE. FINALLY ENDED UP DRIVING INTO ANOTHER LANE FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION TRAFFIC. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT CAR DID NOT STOP FOR 15 FT NEAR A STOP SIGN, WHERE THERE WAS A LITTLE SNOW UNTIL ABS ACTED. IN BOTH CASES WE GOT LUCKY. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED NOT ONLY FOR 2010 MODEL PRIUS BUT ALSO FOR PREVIOUS MODELS. *TR

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE, MY CAR SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL CAUSING OVER $8,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND HURTING MY NECK. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS THE PROBLEM, SO I REMOVED THE MAT. HOWEVER, LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGAIN. I WAS GOING SLOW AND PUSHED ON THE BRAKE HARD AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE I HIT ANYTHING. THE CAR ACTUALLY FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING. ALSO, ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT THE PRIUS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I INFORMED THE TOYOTA DEALER AT 5727 S 27TH ST. MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN, THAT THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SKIDDING WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD. THE SKID LIGHT IN THE DASH ACTUALLY COMES ON. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SO THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT. THIS IS AN ONGOING OCCURRENCE. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET FROM THIS PROBLEM BUT I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS ALSO SINCE I SEE THAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT ONLY THE 2010 PRIUSES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO INCREASE BRAKING PRESSURE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14000.

1) TOYOTA PRIUS, 15MPH, ENGAGED BRAKES, HIT SMALL BUMP IN ROAD AND ANTI-LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED BRAKES. 2) FAILURE IS BRAKING MECHANISM IN TOYOTA PRIUS WILL DISENGAGE. SEEMS TO BE DUE TO HOW THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM WORKS. IT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO QUIT FUNCTIONING. 3) NOTHING. TOYOTA WOULD NOT ADMIT TO ISSUE WITH BRAKING. ON 02/03/2010 TOYOTA ADMITTED TO BRAKE ISSUES WITH TOYOTA PRIUS FROM MY YEAR. THIS IS THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT. *TR

LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHEN SLOWING OVER POTHOLES AND LOOSE PAVEMENT. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE 2010 PRIUS - I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, IT'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND IT'S DONE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. AT FIRST IT ALARMED ME, NOW I'M USED TO IT - HASN'T BOTHERED ME ENOUGH TO QUIT DRIVING IT OR TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS. HAPPENS 5-10 TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING UP AND DOWN A HILL AT 3 TO 5 MPH IN THE SNOW THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO FISH-TAIL AND THE VSC (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) LIGHT WOULD FLASH AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK-UP. THE CONTACT STATED THIS ALMOST CAUSED 5 CRASHES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT THIS TIME BUT SAW THE NEWS STORY TELEVISED AND FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE AGENCY AWARE OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THE 2010 MODEL BUT I HAVE VERY SIMILAR ISSUES WITH MY 2006. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND OCCURS REGULARLY FROM TIME TO TIME (AND HAS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW). WHEN PASSING OVER ROAD SURFACES THAT CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE TO ACTIVATE (WET ROAD, GRAVEL, POT HOLE, SNOW, ETC.), BRAKING AND ACCELERATION CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL PERSISTS FOR 1-5 SECONDS WHEN BRAKING, AND INDEFINITELY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (I.E. WHEN ON SNOW). BRAKING DISTANCE IS CLEARLY INCREASED, AS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AT ALL. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I HAD MAINTAINED A SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE, BUT NEARLY RAN INTO CARS STOPPING IN FRONT OF ME (DUE TO MY VEHICLE NOT BRAKING APPROPRIATELY). MERGING IS ALSO AN ISSUE AT TIMES, AS IS ACCELERATING (INTO TRAFFIC OR OUT OF A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON SNOWY/WET ROADS). I FEEL THAT THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE THE ABILITY TO DEACTIVATE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY TOYOTA IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERING A WAY TO DO THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH OVER A SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHICH ALSO INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50000. UPDATED 03/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10.*JB

ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES UNNECESSARILY WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, POTHOLES, BUMP IN ROAD, OR ON WET SURFACES. *TR

I HAVE NOW HAD THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF THE BRAKE FAILING ON MY CAR: MARCH 15, 2007; DECEMBER 4, 2008; AND JANUARY 16, 2010. ON MARCH 15, 2007: 'I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, TRAVELING ABOUT 15 MPH. 'I WAS ROLLING, WITH MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. 'THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS) PUT ON BRAKES. 'I APPLIED MY BRAKE, AND IT FELT NORMAL, BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. 'I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO PRESS HARDER (PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND GETTING NO RESPONSE WAS VERY DISORIENTING; I ACTUALLY CHECKED TO SEE IF MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE.) 'IT WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT STOPPED ME, NOT MY BRAKES. 'AFTER I WAS STOPPED BY THE COLLISION, MY BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. I FILED AN ACCIDENT REPORT WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CARLSBAD CA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CAR WAS 'QUARANTINED' BY YOUR COMPANY. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL A TOYOTA INSPECTOR CAME TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT MY CAR. THE INSPECTOR FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. ON DECEMBER 4, 2008, SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES: 'I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, TRAVELING ABOUT 10-15 MPH. 'I WAS COMING TO A ROLLING STOP AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS ONE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. 'I APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. 'I TOOK MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE AND SLAMMED IT BACK DOWN ONTO THE BRAKE.THE CAR STOPPED, BUT I VERY NEARLY BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. 'I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA CARLSBAD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN. 'THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CHECKED THE CODES, AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE THIRD BRAKE FAILURE HAPPENED ON JANUARY 16, 2010. THE BRAKE FAILED WHEN I WAS PARALLEL PARKING. I TOOK MY FOOT ALL THE WAY OFF THE BRAKE AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN. THE BRAKE WORKED ON THE 2ND ATTEMPT. LUCKILY, I DID NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SVC DEPT; I KNEW IT WOULD DO NO GOOD. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. IF IT ENCOUNTERS BUMPY ROAD WHILE TURNING AND BRAKING, THEN STABILITY INDICATOR WILL LIGHT UP AND BRAKES WILL STOP WORKING FOR ABOUT A SECOND. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON ICE. IT CAN BE REPRODUCED AT WILL. JUST BUMPY ROAD SURFACE AND TURNING/BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. DID NOT TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IT THOUGH. LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT. *TR

I AM CONTACTING YOU TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN MY 2006 PRIUS ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. I DROVE HOME AND STOPPED AT MY MAILBOX TO GET THE MAIL. THE CAR SHIFTED OFF OF GAS AND ONTO ELECTRIC. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MILES PER HOUR TO MAKE A Y-TURN TO BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE THE CAR THRUSTED FORWARD WHILE ON ELECTRIC WITH GREAT FORCE THROUGH THE NEIGHBOR'S SIX FOOT WOODEN FENCE WHERE THE CAR STOPPED (I DON'T KNOW IF IT STOPPED ON IT'S OWN OR GOT HUNG UP IN FENCE AND ALSO STUCK FROM HILL DECLINE.) I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TRY PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE A SECOND TIME DUE TO THE FACT IT HAPPENED THAT FAST AND FORCE FULL. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON ELECTRIC AND BARELY MOVING. MY GAS PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK AND THE MAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE MAT AND ACTUALLY KICKED AT THE MAT TO SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE AND IT DID NOT. OUR MAT WAS NOT EVEN UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE MY HIGH HEELS MADE THE GAS PEDAL STICK. I DO NOT WEAR HIGH HEELS AND MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT THRUSTED FORWARD WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT YOU HAVE MORE OF AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION OF SOME TYPE. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE WHO CHECKED OUR CAR OUT WHILE AT THE BODY SHOP AND THE REPAIR GUY SAID HE WAS IN THE CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR THE COMPUTER APPEARED TO BE CLEARED. TOYOTA TOLD US THERE WAS NO PROBLEM? WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIGURE THIS OUT AND REASSURE US THAT OUR VEHICLE IS SAFE. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AT HOME DUE TO THE FACT THE DAY THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE I WAS AT A LOCAL COLLEGE CAMPUS AND COULD OF RUN OVER A GROUP OF YOUNG ADULTS. SOMEONE COULD OF BEEN INJURED OR KILLED THAT DAY! IT SCARES ME THAT MY CAR MIGHT DO THIS AGAIN! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DRY ROAD AND GENTLY AND STEADILY BRAKING, THE BRAKING CEASES FOR A SECOND, RESULTING IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE A SURGE FORWARD, BUT IT MIGHT BE A CESSATION OF THE DECELERATION THAT RESULTS FROM THE BRAKING. FEELS LIKE A CAR IS PUSHING MY CAR FROM BEHIND. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 OR 15 TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, BUT IT'S SCARY. I NEVER REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER SINCE I KNEW I COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

I EXPERIENCE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP WITH AN EARLIER MODEL TOYOTA PRIUS. MY PRIUS IS A 2006 MODEL (2ND WAVE). THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I GO OVER ONE PARTICULAR SPOT IN MY USUAL COMMUTE, AND ANY OTHER SPOT WHERE THE ROAD IS ROUGH. *TR

THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN LATE 06. IF I AM ON A WET ROAD OR A GRAVEL ROAD, IT SEEMS THAT WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKES, THEY NOT ONLY FAIL BUT THE CAR LURCHES. WHEN THIS OCCURS A LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD GOES OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ABOUT IT 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A BRAKE FAILURE BUT WAS JUST THE WAY THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BRAKES WORKED AND THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. I WAS INVOLVED IN A 6 CAR PILEUP ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO, IN WHICH I WAS THE 2ND CAR IN LINE. THE LIGHT WENT OFF DURING THE ACCIDENT ITSELF AND I BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKING MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE WRECK, NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF ALL OF THIS. IT FELT ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME. I JUST ASSUMED THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS PUSHING ME FORWARD, BUT NO AT FAULT PARTY COULD EVER BE DETERMINED. I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN TODAY ASKING (SINCE MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) IF THIS COULD BE REPAIRED SINCE IT WAS NOW ACKNOWLEDGED AND WAS TOLD THAT UNTIL A RECALL OCCURRED, TOYOTA CORPORATE HAD NOT INFORMED THEM OF A FIX SO NOTHING COULD OR WOULD BE DONE. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE, AS I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE I AM PAYING A LOT (FOR MY INCOME ANYWAY) AND IT IS SO UNSAFE. I CARRY MY NEWBORN AROUND IN THIS THING! NOT ONLY ARE THE BRAKES A CONCERN TO ME BUT THE PRIUS IS ALSO PART OF THE FLOORMAT RECALL SO YOU COUPLE THE TWO ISSUES WITH BRAKE AND ACCELERATION AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR EXTREME RISK WHEN DRIVING. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CAR I AM PAYING SO MUCH FOR IS SO RISKY TO DRIVE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TOYOTA RECALL THE CAR AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

AFTER GOING OVER SIGNIFICANT BUMPS OR POTHOLES, OCCASIONALLY BRAKES HESITATE TO CATCH. BEGAN WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING VEHICLE. REPORTED TO DEALER, TEST DROVE FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES AND COULD NOT REPEAT SO THEY IGNORED MY COMPLAINT. PROBLEM PERSISTS, BUT TO DATE HAVE NOT HAD VEHICLE FAIL TO STOP. HAVE OVER 80,000 MILES ON PRIUS. *TR

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2006 PRIUS THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. OUR PRIUS HAS THE EXACT SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT I READ ABOUT TODAY INVOLVING THE 2010 PRIUS THAT YOU ARE STARTING TO INVESTIGATE. APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS WILL CAUSE REPEATED MOMENTARY LOSE OF BRAKING. I NEVER REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS AND WAS CAREFUL ABOUT BRAKING ON ROUGH ROADS. *TR

TOYOTA 2006 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM...I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE PROBLEM THAT JESSICA YELLIN OUTLINED ON CNN. AS AN ENGINEER MYSELF LET ME DESCRIBE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONFLICTS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON BUMPS AND SLIPPERY SURFACES. IF YOU ARE BRAKING AND HIT A POT HOLE OR SERIES OF BUMPS (CAUSING A WHEEL TO SPIN SLOWER THAN THE REST) THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKS IN AND DISABLES THE BRAKES IN AN UNACCEPTABLE MANNER. A YELLOW "TRACTION" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHES DURING THIS EVEN, WHICH LASTS ABOUT A SECOND UNLESS FURTHER SLIPPING OCCURS. I UNDERSTAND THE GOAL OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE IMPLEMENTATION ON THIS CAR IS JUST PLAIN POOR AND UNSAFE. I HAVE TAPPED OTHER'S BUMPERS IN SITUATIONS THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN. AT FIRST I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, BUT AFTER DRIVING OTHER'S PRIUS CARS I FOUND OUT THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING. (AT LEAST 2005 AND 2007 MODELS.) I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE SEPTEMBER 30, 2006...AND HAVE OVER 40,000 MILES. I AM SURE THAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE ADDRESSED BY UPGRADING THE FIRMWARE IN THE VEHICLE. OR, DISABLE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM SO THEY WORK WHEN I STEP ON THEM! I HAVE HAD NO ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IF IT WERE TEMPORARILY LOSING BRAKING CONTROL. WITHIN MOMENTS, THE BRAKES WOULD RESET AND FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL MALFUNCTION WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,423.

YOU NEED TO BROADEN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING ISSUE TO INCLUDE AT LEAST THE GEN II PRIUS (2004-2009). WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE PRESS (SINCE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO) REGARDING REPORTS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS ON THE 2010 PRIUS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME WITH MY 2006 PRIUS SINCE I GOT IT. I CHECKED AND POSTED TO PRIUSCHAT.COM ON IT YEARS AGO, AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. NOTE THAT THE COMMON WISDOM ON THE SITE IS THAT THE ISSUE IS ACTUALLY "TRACTION CONTROL" THAT AGGRESSIVELY DISENGAGES THE DRIVETRAIN WHEN THE WHEELS SPIN AT A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENTIAL, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE DRIVETRAIN. THIS ACTION DISENGAGES REGENERATIVE BRAKING. THE SWITCH TO CONVENTIONAL FRICTION BRAKING HAS A DELAY, AND CAUSES THE (QUITE STARTLING AND SCARY) ABSENCE OF BRAKING FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. THIS EXPLANATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FACT THAT AN ANALOGOUS PROBLEM HAPPENS FOR ACCELERATION, WHEN HITTING UNEVEN PAVEMENT, POTHOLES, ETC. I.E., ACCELERATION IS MOMENTARILY DISENGAGED. (THIS, ITSELF, CAN BE QUITE STARTLING IF ONE IS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, AND SUDDENLY LOSES POWER.) I MARKED THE INCIDENT DATE AS THE APPROXIMATE TIME I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE OUTSET. BEFORE I BECAME ACCLIMATED TO THE BEHAVIOR, I PROBABLY EXPERIENCED A STARTLING LOSS OF BRAKING ROUGHLY ONCE PER WEEK OR SO. ONCE I CAME TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I LEARNED TO EASE OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL MYSELF, AS I APPROACHED A PROBLEM FEATURE IN THE ROAD (LIKE A POTHOLE OR MANHOLE COVER) IN ORDER TO AVOID IT. SINCE THEN, I ONLY RARELY MISS SOMETHING, AND EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF BRAKING PROBLEM PERHAPS ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS. THE MATTER WOULD DEFINITELY BE PERCEIVED AS SERIOUS BY TYPICAL DRIVERS -- IT'S A HEART SKIPS A BEAT, WORRY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU KIND OF FEELING. *JB

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS- I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHERE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT LOW SPEED AND THE BRAKES TOOK A VERY LONG SECOND TO ENGAGE- IT HAS OCCURRED WHEN I HAVE BEEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND ALSO WHEN MOVING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION I HAVE PUT ONE DATE BELOW - HOWEVER IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *JB

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. BRAKING BEHAVIOR IDENTICAL TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODELS. WHEN TRAVELING OVER A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT OR POTHOLES AT LOW OR MODERATE SPEED, THE VEHICLE BRAKING SEEMS TO RELEASE. THE BEST WAY TO CHARACTERIZE THIS IS THAT AS THE VEHICLE BOUNCES OVER THE ROUGH PAVEMENT DURING BREAKING AND THE WEIGHT IS APPLIED AND RELEASED FROM THE WHEELS DUE TO THE UP/DOWN MOTION, THE BRAKES RELEASE AND RE-APPLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE STEADY PRESSURE I APPLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS BEYOND THE BEHAVIOR EXPECTED BY THE ABS. NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE HAS YET OCCURRED, BUT THE BEHAVIOR IS DISTURBING. NOT MEANING TO PILE ON WITH THE ONGOING TROUBLES WITH TOYOTA, BUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BRAKING IN MY 2006 VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. *JB

BRAKES ON MY 2006 PRIUS DO NOT WORK IMMEDIATELY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE IS ACTIVATED. I NOTICED THIS SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2006. WHEN I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY THAT THE 2010 PRIUS WAS EXHIBITING THIS SAME BEHAVIOR I DECIDED TO MAKE SURE NHTSA KNEW THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 PRIUS SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND CONSISTENTLY WHENEVER THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE IS ACTIVATED AND I APPLY THE BRAKES. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD TO GET USED TO BUT NOW I KNOW IT MAY BE A DEFECT. THE INCIDENT DATE I PROVIDED BELOW IS JUST THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OF THE SITUATION. *JB

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC CHANGES IN BRAKING DECELERATION WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AT CONSTANT PRESSURE, BUT WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES (SUCH AS THOSE ON MY HOME STREET). THE SUDDEN DECREASE OF DECELERATION IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD TELLING ME I'M GOING OVER BUMPY TERRAIN, THE BRAKING CHANGE LASTS ON THE ORDER OF A SECOND. THIS PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, ALWAYS UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. IT OCCURS BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS (E.G. ON MY STREET) AND HIGH SPEEDS (E.G. ON A POTHOLED FREEWAY). YOUR REPORTING SYSTEM ASKS FOR A SPECIFIC DATE, MILEAGE, AND SPEED AT WHICH THE FAILURE OCCURS. I HAVE ENTERED ARBITRARY VALUES. I EMPHASIZE THAT (1) THIS PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE JUST AFTER MY PURCHASE OF THE NEW CAR AND CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT (THE CAR HAS 50K MILES AT PRESENT), AND (2) HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *JB

MY 2006 PRIUS ALSO FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES AREN'T WORKING CORRECTLY WHEN I GO OVER A POTHOLE, SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS IN TODAY'S NEWS REPORT. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONFINED TO JUST THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT ALL YEARS. *JB

2 BRAKE PROBLEMS: (1) BRAKES DO NOT WORK WELL ON SNOW. I HAVE SLID THROUGH 3 STOP SIGNS SINCE PURCHASED CAR IN 2006. BRAKE APPLIED BUT NO OR VERY SLOW RESPONSE. I TRY TO AVOID DRIVING DURING SNOWSTORMS AS A RESULT. (2) WHEN BRAKING ON WET OR UNEVEN (BROKEN PAVEMENT, POTHOLES, MANHOLE COVERS, ETC.) ROADWAY, YELLOW LIGHT BLINKS ON DASH AND CAR MOMENTARILY -- FOR 1/2 OR 1 SECOND -- DOES NOT RESPOND TO BRAKE PEDAL. CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS FLYING, LIKE YOU ARE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST ONE DOZEN TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *JB

ISSUE RELATING TO PRIUS BRAKES. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE ISSUE EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. I DON'T THINK IT IS ENTIRELY BRAKES, BECAUSE I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED IT WHILE ACCELERATING AND ONE OF THE WHEELS LOSES TRACTION. I THINK IT IS THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM / ABS. ANYWAY, I'VE LEARNED TO COPE WITH IT, THE DROPOUT IS ONLY FOR LESS THAN A SECOND, AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT (OR EVEN NEAR ACCIDENT) BECAUSE OF IT. THIS LATEST EVENT WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A TURN AND ONE OF THE WHEELS WENT OVER A MANHOLE COVER. THAT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE BRAKES CUT OUT AND THEN BACK IN. *TR

INSUFFICIENT BRAKING WHEN A POT HOLE OR A PUDDLE IS HIT. ALSO THE CAR "SLIPS" WHEN DRIVING OVER WET SURFACES. *TR

BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED OR NON EXISTENT WHEN HITTING A BUMP, POTHOLE OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE AT SLOWER SPEEDS AS REPORTED BY 2010 PRIUS OWNERS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE NEW VEHICLE IN JUNE 2006 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY VARIOUS DEALERS THAT "THIS IS HOW ABS WORKS IN THE PRIUS, JUST KEEP APPLYING STEADY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH AGAIN AND YOU'LL STOP". UNTIL HEARING NEWS REPORTS TODAY OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES I THOUGH THIS WAS NORMAL (THOUGH SOMEWHAT UNNERVING BEHAVIOR) FOR A HYBRID WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS. *TR

I READ THE ARTICLE TODAY REGARDING PRIUS BRAKES AND I DEFINITELY HAVE THAT ISSUE ALL THE TIME IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER I HIT A POTHOLE OR A SLIPPERY SERVICE AND APPLY THE BRAKE, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE STOPS WORKING AND THE CARS MOVES FORWARD MORE QUICKLY. THEN, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR RE-ENGAGES THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT RELATING TO THIS, BUT IT IS MOST DEFINITELY SOMETHING I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES. I HAVE NOT APPROACHED TOYOTA OR MY DEALER ABOUT IT (IN PART BECAUSE I AM NOT NEARBY TO MY DEALER). *TR

2006 PRIUS BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY MOVES TO FLOOR WHEN FOOT HELD ON BRAKE PEDAL, I.E., AT A STOP SIGN. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT BRAKE WOULD HOLD EVEN WHEN PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED. I THIS TRUE? *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE SINCE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I CONSTRUED THIS TO BE A PART OF THE PRIUS AND DID NOT THINK OF LODGING A COMPLAINT. BUT BASED ON TODAY'S (2/3/10) REPORT ON PRIUS' BRAKE ISSUES FROM JAPAN, I FEEL COMPELLED TO POINT OUT THAT: THERE HAS BEEN A TYPICALLY RECURRING PROBLEM OF THE TIRES SKIDDING AS THE BRAKES LOOSE THEIR GRIP WHEN I HAVE HIT THE BRAKE AS I AM CROSSING A POTHOLE OR A ROAD EXPANSION JOINT OR MINOR BUMP (NOT SPEED BUMPS) OR JUST A WET SPOT. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN NOTED REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES - MEANING EVEN ON BRAND NEW TIRES. THE VSC LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN THE CAR GLIDES/SKIDS OVER AND MOVES PAST THE POINT WHERE I HAD WANTED TO SLOW DOWN. I AM NOT SURE OF THE TYPE OF BRAKE IN THIS VEHICLE SO I WILL BE CHECKING OFF ALL 3 KINDS. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND HAS BEEN ONGOING AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER. THE FAULT IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN PASSING OVER ROAD SURFACES THAT CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE TO ACTIVATE (GRAVEL, POT HOLE, SNOW, STANDING WATER, ETC.), BRAKING AND ACCELERATION CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL PERSISTS FOR 1-3 SECONDS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH A YIELDING SITUATION ACCOMPANYING A MERGING OR TURNING MANEUVER PRESENT THEMSELVES. IN THESE SITUATIONS, IF THE CAR PASSES OVER A ROAD SURFACE WHICH CAUSES AN ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, I AM UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR TO ACCELERATE OUT OF DANGER. I FEAR THAT I WILL FIND MYSELF IN THE SITUATION WHERE I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TO YIELD TO A VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A RED LIGHT AND WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO DUE TO THE LOSS OF BRAKING/ACCELERATION CONTROL ACCOMPANYING THE ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IN SUCH A SITUATION, I WOULD BE UNABLE TO AVOID A HIGH-SPEED COLLISION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LIVED WITH THIS DANGER FOR THE LAST 4+ YEARS, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, I FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE THROUGH THIS COMPLAINT SYSTEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO OPERATE IN THE "NEUTRAL" POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE GEAR INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO A BARRIER OF DIRT AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,404.

I READ NEWS COVERAGE OF PRIUS BRAKES PROBLEMS. I OWN A 2006 PRIUS, AND HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE LAST 4 YEARS THAT WE'VE OWNED IT. SO IT IS NOT ONLY A 2010 PROBLEM. I DID NOT REPORT IT IN THE PAST, BECAUSE IT NEVER PUT ME IN DANGER (YET). HOWEVER, WHENEVER THE CAR GOES OVER A POTHOLE OR AN UNEVEN SURFACE OR A SLIPPERY PATCH, IT SEEMS TO ACCELERATE MOMENTARILY - IT'S SORT OF A "FLYING" SENSATION - NOT VERY PLEASANT, BUT SHORT ENOUGH, SO THAT CONTROL IS QUICKLY REGAINED. I AM NOT POSITIVE IF MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. I CAN FOLLOW UP AND PAY MORE ATTENTION IF THERE IS FOLLOW-UP WITH THIS COMPLAINING. THANKS. *TR

MOMENTARY BRAKE SLIPPAGE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN WE HIT SOMETHING SLIPPERY LIKE A WET MANHOLE--MUCH AS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED ELSEWHERE. IT HAS *NOT* YET BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HITS A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD. I HAVE ON MANY OCCASIONS ALMOST COLLIDED WITH VEHICLES THAT HAVE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AFTER THESE "SURGE" EPISODES. IT OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY FROM OR TO WORK. *TR

ON 1/30/2010 AT OR ABOUT 9:00AM. MY DAUGHTER'S 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED ENROUTE TO MAMMOUTH. NO SNOW OR RAIN WAS ON ROADWAY. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH HE SINCE, BUT OUR SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT THIS INCIDENT IN THE EVENT AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A STUDY AND POSSIBLE RECALL ABOUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. I AM AN OWNER OF A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I THINK EVERY MODEL YEAR OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS LINE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I TOO HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER A BUMP OR RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN BRAKING. THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND YOU CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SPEED. AN INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON, ON THE DASHBOARD LIKE YOU ARE SLIDING. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING. THIS EVENT OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME YOU GO OVER A BUMP WHEN BRAKING. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2006. I WOULD HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE ALL TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES IN EVERY YEAR MANUFACTURED. WITH TOTAL SINCERITY - THANK YOU. (PS - THIS FORM REQUIRES ME TO PUT IN AN INCIDENT DATE - THERE ARE MULTIPLE WITH NO SPECIFIC DATE, SO I AM PUTTING TODAY'S DATE). *TR

IN OCT 2009 THE YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE BRAKES CAME ON IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. DEALER SAID THEY RECALIBRATED THE ABS SENSOR. THEN IN DEC 2009, THE CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE PROPERLY AND SEEMED TO SKID FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN ONE TRIP AND SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THAT DAY. THEY REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY MADE SOME TYPE OF FIX TO THE ABS SYSTEM. ALSO SAID IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY WOULD PUT THE MONEY I HAD SPENT THUS FAR (ABOUT $130.00) TOWARDS FUTURE REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN SINCE THEN (A MONTH AGO) BUT I AM AFRAID THIS PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO PROBLEMS OTHERS ARE HAVING WITH THEIR TOYOTAS NOT STOPPING. *TR

IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY WITH POOR VISIBILITY. I DROVE ABOUT 15 MILE MPH ON A ONE-LANE ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR SIGNALS. I SAW A CAR AHEAD OF ME AND SLOW DOWN EVEN MORE TO ABOUT 10 MILES MPG AND KEPT DISTANCE. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY, I ENGAGED THE BRAKE. HOWEVER TO MY DISMAY, THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. WHEN I REALIZED THAT I SHOUT IN PANIC "PLEASE STOP, STOP!" FOR ABOUT 8 SECOND I HOPELESSLY WATCHED MY CAR SLOWLY RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A SPEED ABOUT 5 MILES MPH. BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SLOW SPEED, MY CAR'S FRONT BUMPER WAS ALMOST INTACT BUT MY HOOD WAS DAMAGED BY THE REAR BUMPER OF THE SUV. I HAD AN ESTIMATED DAMAGE ABOUT $1100. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE SLIPPERY ROAD. AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET, I REALIZED THAT THE SLOW SPEED BRAKE FAILURES ARE WELL-DOCUMENTED BY MANY DRIVERS. OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE WERE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED. THEREFORE I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 PRIUS WHICH I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN A LEFT TURN BEHIND A FREIGHT TRUCK. AS I APPROACHED THE REAR OF THE TRUCK I APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED IN THE NORMAL FASHION, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE -- IT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NO CHANGE IN SPEED. IMMEDIATELY AWARE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, I QUICKLY AND METHODICALLY 1) VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING THE PEDAL, 2) CHECKED MY PERIPHERAL VISION TO CONFIRM THAT I WAS INDEED MOVING FORWARD RATHER THAN THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME MOVING BACKWARD AND 3) PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AT FULL FORCE AND HELD FIRM WHILE QUICKLY VISUALLY CHECKING THAT MY FEET WERE IN FACT ON THE BRAKE. I ALSO CHECKED THE DASHBOARD TO CONFIRM THAT THE CAR WAS ON AND IN A NORMAL "DRIVE" GEAR. AT LAST, IT WAS TOO LATE AND I SMASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, STILL WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. THE TRUCK DRIVER EMERGED FROM THE CAB, A BIT SHAKEN BUT NOT HURT. HIS TRUCK WAS NOT HARMED AS I HIT A HEAVY METAL FRAME THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THE HOOD OF MY CAR WAS DENTED AND SCRAPED. IN RESPONSE, I REMOVED THE CAR FROM TRAFFIC, CANCELLED THE MEETING I WAS ON THE WAY TO AND SLOWLY DROVE A VERY SHORT DISTANCE TO MY EMPLOYER'S PARKING LOT AND PARKED THE CAR. I CALLED THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER, EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND, AT THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION, CALLED THEIR TOWING SERVICE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXAMINED THE BRAKES AND "FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE 'AT THIS TIME.'" THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AND, SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATION, THEY ARE TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER AS I DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

I BELIEVE THAT I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON A SNOWY LOCAL ROAD. I DO NOT KNOW MY EXACT SPEED, BUT I ESTIMATE IT WAS ABOUT 30 MPH (SPEED LIMIT IS 45 MPH). I SAW A CAR DRIVING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF ME AND I TRIED TO BRAKE FROM ABOUT HALF A BLOCK AWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY EFFECT. BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, I ENDED UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER LOOKING AT MY FEET TO CONFIRM THAT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR, AND I HAD, INDEED, HAD MY FOOT ON THE CORRECT PEDAL. THERE WAS LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHER CAR (MOSTLY A BROKEN FENDER, I BELIEVE). MY CAR EXPERIENCED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO A HEADLIGHT, WHEEL, DOOR AND A BIT TO THE ENGINE, BUT WAS REPAIRED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THAT MY FRONT TIRES WERE A BIT LOW ON TREAD (BUT NOT COMPLETELY BALD). THE REAR TIRES HAD BEEN CHANGED WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. *TR

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES LETTING UP FOR A COUPLE SECONDS WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS (UNDER 25 MPH) AND HITTING A BUMP OR SHALLOW HOLE WHEN BRAKING. TYPICALLY, THE ANTI-SKID (VSC) LIGHT COMES ON FULLY OR FLICKERS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THE CAR MOMENTARILY STOPS BRAKING (YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR ACCELERATE FORWARD SLIGHTLY AND THE PEDAL FEELS LIKE IT IS ON THE FLOOR). IT DOES NOT SEEM RELATED TO WET OR DRY CONDITIONS AS IT HAS HAPPENED IN BOTH. BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE RELATED TO GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP OR EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE/SEWER PLATE WHILE BRAKING. IF I HAVE THE REACTION TIME & FORETHOUGHT, IMMEDIATELY LETTING GO OF THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY AND PRESSING DOWN HARD WILL GET THE CAR TO STOP. FORTUNATELY, IT HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH TIMES (INCLUDING SEVERAL NEAR MISSES) THAT I ALLOW EXTRA DISTANCE WITH CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND BEEN LUCKY TO AVOID COLLISIONS. I ALSO WATCH THE ROAD SURFACE FOR BUMPS/HOLES WHEN BRAKING BUT AM WORRIED THAT I MIGHT NOT BE LUCKY TO AVOID 100% OF THE TIME AND COULD REAR END A CAR OR EVEN WORSE I COULD SERIOUS INJURE A PEDESTRIAN WALKING ACROSS A CROSSWALK AS I'M COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO MY DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO REPLICATE IT BUT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SO THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU CHECK OUT THIS FORUM, YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM DEFINITELY NOT ALONE HOWEVER: HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/BRAKE-FAILURE-2007-T1013.HTML. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONTACT WITNESSED THAT HER BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

HAD A MINOR FRONT END ACCIDENT WITH MY TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. LOST ALL BRAKES AND COULD NOT TURN OFF THE POWER AND STOP AFTER 10 MINUTES. I HAD TO DRIVE AROUND AN EMPTY SITE IN CIRCLES DURING THIS TIME. THIS WAS WITNESSED BY A POLICE OFFICER, THINKING I WAS CRAZY DRIVING IN CIRCLES. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN CITY BLOCKS, MANY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. ANY SIMILAR COMPLAIN PREVIOUSLY? *TR

I HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST 6 TIMES) THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN I TRY TO STOP. THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD SEVERAL SECONDS. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND NOT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT IT HAS BEEN CLOSE SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE BUT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEMS. THEY TELL ME THAT IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THEY MUST REPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO FIX IT AND SO FAR THIS HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE. THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I CAME TO A STOP AND THE CAR ACTUALLY CAME TO A STOP AND THEN SUDDENLY STARTED CREEPING TOWARDS THE OTHER CAR. I THOUGHT I WAS ACCIDENTALLY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AS WELL BUT I WASN'T SO I STARTED PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE AND NOTHING! I STARTED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STOPPED. THEN I CONTINUED MY DRIVE AS USUAL WITHOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. NO LIGHTS CAME ON, NOTHING UNUSUAL. JUST WEIRD. CAR HAS ALMOST 36K MILES 06 MODEL. *JB

I WAS COMING TO A STOP ON A BUSY STREET. AS I APPLIED BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT "CATCH." I COULDN'T AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS BOTH SURROUNDING LANES WERE FULL. I LITERALLY WATCHED HELPLESSLY AS I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR IS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 27,000 MILES ON IT. IT ALSO HAD ALL THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS AS WELL WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. *TR

I'VE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. TRAFFIC STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT AND I WAS BEHIND A CEMENT TRUCK. I SLOWED TO A COMPLETE STOP ABOUT 5 FT. BEHIND THIS TRUCK. ALL OF SUDDEN I NOTICED MY CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I STOOD ON MY BRAKE AND COULDN'T STOP THE PRIUS. IT CONTACTED THE CEMENT TRUCK CAUSING A DENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD AND A CRACK WINDSHIELD. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED AS TRAFFIC BEGAN TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT, HE BEGAN BRAKING FROM ABOUT 25 MPH WHICH SEEMED NORMAL. HE CONTINUED TO GRADUALLY SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 5 TO 10 FEET, THE CONSUMER ESTIMATED HIS SPEED WAS ABOUT 3-5 MPH. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CONSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FELT HARD, NOT SPONGY AND NOT PULSATING. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING COMPLETELY. UPDATED 01/10/07.*JB

WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKES STUTTER OR GRAB. IT IS EXPLAINED IN DETAIL AT THIS THREAD: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/-T11858.HTML AND HERE: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/INDEX.PHP?ACT=ST&F=19&T=16922. *NM