2016 Toyota Prius Cruise Control Problems
11 owner-reported cruise control complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (11)
On September 2022 (at 46K) Dealer did TSB related fix on my 2016 Prius. PFA for service record. They replaced Exhaust Front Pipe, which is suggested work from Toyota PFA for Toyota Technical Bulletin. T-SB-0135-19 At 51,747 on March 1st 2023 around 8 40 am, while we are driving on highway at 70 mph suddenly Check Engine Light, Coolant light, Hybrid related lights were on Vehicle lost the control, speed was dropping luckily we could safely stop the vehicle on the shoulder no Vehicle hit us from behind. Sudden stop of engine while driving on highway at 51K miles is safety issue. Toyota dealer could not provide additional details except Engine is over heating.
WHILE SLOWING AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, IN FRONT OF THE DENTIST OFFICE WHERE MY WIFE HAD AN APPOINTMENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT JUMPED THE CURB, AND SHE STEERED HARD RIGHT TO AVOID THE BUILDING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OH THE PARKING SPACE. SHE SIDESWIPED THE FRONT OF 2 VEHICLES PARKED NEXT TO THE SPACE SHE WAS MOVING INTO, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TOWARD THE STREET. IT HIT THE CURB GOING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. A PERSON CAME TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR AND ASKED MY WIFE IF SHE WAS OK, AND SAID SHE SHOULD TURN THE CAR OFF - WHICH SHE DID.
I'VE NOTICED A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING THAT MY PRIUS STARTED ACCELERATING WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE PEDAL. IT HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING TOO SCARY YET BUT IT IS DISCONCERTING. I NOTICED OTHERS HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND WANTED TO ADD THAT I SEEM TO BE EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE TOO. IT'S POSSIBLE IT'S JUST MY VEHICLE SPECIFICALLY; I'VE NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC YET.
SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION INCIDENT. I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. AS I STRAIGHTENED IT OUT TO COMPLETE THE MANEUVER, THE CAR TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN AND HIT THE WALL OF THE PARKING GARAGE THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE WITH NO DAMAGE. TOYOTA HAS HAD RECALLS IN PRIOR YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM - BROKEN THROTTLE RETURN SWITCH - BUT THEY INSIST THIS ISN'T THE PROBLEM HERE. ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE CLAIMING THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN, THAT WHAT I EXPERIENCED WITH THE CAR JUST TAKING OFF ON ITS OWN DIDN'T HAPPEN. THE CAR ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT GETTING THIS REPAIRED, BUT THEY CLAIM IT DOESN'T NEED REPAIR. IN THEIR RESPONSE LETTER, TOYOTA SAID, "THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) RECORDED THAT THERE WAS ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLICATION AND NO BRAKE APPLICATION LEADING UP TO THE IMPACT." OF COURSE THERE WAS NO BRAKE APPLICATION, THERE WAS NO TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKE! THE CAR TOOK OFF LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL AND RAMMED INTO THE WALL IN 2-3 SECONDS! THIS IS NOT ONLY A DANGER FOR ME AND MY CAR BUT COULD BE FOR OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AS WELL. I HAVE A YOUTUBE VIDEO ON HOW TO DO THE REPAIR BUT I CAN NOT UPLOAD IT HERE.
CAR ACCELERATING WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WHEN APPLYING BRAKE, CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND TOOK OFF WITH ENGINE RACING IN HOME DRIVEWAY.
TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN STRIKING 2 VEHICLES. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GATES TOYOTA (640 W IRELAND RD, SOUTH BEND, IN 46614), BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
WHEN I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING AND HIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD SUCH AS A POTHOLE, I ESSENTIALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT FEELS JERKY LIKE IT LURCHES FORWARD OR SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE. ITS NOT VERY PRONOUNCED BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND RUN OVER POTHOLES, SO ITS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT THAT ONLY HAPPENED ON ONE DAY, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I'M BRAKING OR HOW FAST I'M GOING UNLESS I'M BARELY MOVING (THEN IT DOESN'T JERK).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE PLASTIC RIDGE ON THE CENTER CONSOLE CAUGHT THE DRIVER'S SHOE AND CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK TO THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FITZGERALD TOYOTA DEALER IN GAITHERSBURG, MD AND WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,700. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REPORT SPEED IN KPH, ONLY IN MPH. THIS MEANS THAT EVERY TIME I CROSS INTO CANADA WITH THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE DIFFICULTY DISCERNING WHETHER I AM FOLLOWING ALL VEHICLE SAFETY AND TRAFFIC LAWS OR MAINTAINING A SAFE SPEED. TO REPEAT, WHILE EVERY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED HAS A SPEEDOMETER THAT READS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND METRIC UNITS, THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT. IT REPORTS SPEED IN MPH *ONLY*. THIS IS FINE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT EVERY TIME I CROSS INTO CANADA I'M LEFT GUESSING.
THE 2016 PRIUS 4 DOESN'T COME WITH THE ABILITY TO CHANGE MILES TO KILOMETERS UNLESS YOU ARE AWARE THAT IT IS AN OPTION YOU HAVE TO BUY WHICH NEITHER SALESMEN OR TOYOTA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS AWARE OF. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYONE WHO CAN TELL ME WHETHER THIS OPTION CAN BE ADDED BUT SO FAR IT APPEARS THAT IT IS.