2002 Toyota Prius Driver assistance Problems

DRIVING SPEED LESS THAN 25MPH ON FAMILIAR SURFACE STREET WITH NEED TO STOP FOR A CAR ABOUT 75 FEET (ESTIMATE) IN FRONT; SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY STOP; APPLIED BRAKES BUT CAR ACCELERATED (I THINK ONLY ELECTRIC MOTOR); FURTHER BRAKE PRESSURE DID NOT STOP THE CAR, CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE (ESTIMATE 30 MPH); FENDER BENDER CRASH OF DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER INTO PASSENGER REAR FENDER AND SIDE BUMPER. VERY FAMILIAR WITH CAR (19 YEARS DRIVING IT) AND VERY FAMILIAR STREET NEAR MY HOME; CONFUSION WAS NOT A FACTOR; NO AIRBAGS ON EITHER CAR ACTIVATED; I WAS ABLE TO STOP WHEN I WAS BEYOND THE STRUCK VEHICLE. I PLAN ON NOT DRIVING CAR FURTHER AND HAVE ASKED TOYOTA DEALER TO TAKE IT BACK FOR JUNK WITHOUT A DEFINITE REPLY SO FAR

NHTSA ID

11360482

Incident

Sep 3, 2020

Mileage

65,395 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE INDECENTLY ACCELERATED TO 115 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID

10533835

Incident

Aug 4, 2013

Mileage

106,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER SPEED LIMIT WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND AFTER FEW SECONDS I WAS AT A CURVE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN LEFT AND WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH AND COLLIDING WITH AN OBJECT. THE CAR GOT HUGE DAMAGE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND STILL IN MY YARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478896

Incident

Aug 15, 2011

Mileage

241,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. IN ADDITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. .. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE/SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AUTO SHOP ON AUGUST 2, 2011 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PINION SHAFT NUTS. THEY ADJUSTED THE GEAR, ACCELERATOR AND STEERING. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND MOVES FORWARD AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER STARTS IT. UPDATED 10/03/11

NHTSA ID

10415148

Incident

Dec 15, 2009

Mileage

33,000 mi

2002 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCIDENT *GR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS LEAVING A MEETING WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE HER EMERGENCY BRAKE. SHE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND HAS PARKED THERE ONCE A MONTH FOR OVER A YEAR. BEFORE SHE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AT SUCH HIGH SPEED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT BY BRAKING. THEREFORE, SHE SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED OVER $10,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10324246

Incident

Jan 6, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE RPM'S INCREASED EXCESSIVELY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE LATE MODEL TOYOTAS HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED REGARDING THE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. JO

NHTSA ID

10313092

Incident

Aug 12, 2007

MY 2002 PRIUS HAS BRAKING PROBLEMS WHEN IT HITS A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT OR ENCOUNTERS SMALL BUMPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED (NEW). IF YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN AND HIT A BUMP OR A SERIES OF BUMPS, THE BRAKING POWER LITERALLY DISAPPEARS FOR A MOMENT OR TWO. THE BRAKING POWER DOES RETURN, BUT IT ADDS CONSIDERABLY TO YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE. I NEVER REALIZED HOW SERIOUS IT COULD BE UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE OTHER TOYOTA RECALLS INVOLVING BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10307865

Incident

Jun 10, 2003

Mileage

15,000 mi

I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS KNOWN OF THE BRAKING PROBLEM ALL ALONG. I PURCHASED NEW, A 2002 PRIUS. IN 2008 MY ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT. THE SERVICE MGR. TOLD ME IT NEEDED A NEW RELAY, AND HE COULD FIX IT FOR $1700. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE SEEN A RELAY COSTING $1700. MY BRAKES STILL WORKED, JUST NOT PROPERLY SO I DIDN'T SPEND THE $1700. AS LONG AS TOYOTA CAN GET THEIR CUSTOMERS TO SPEND $1700. THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE A RECALL. I HAVE AROUND 47000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND AM ON MY THIRD SET OF ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. MY TIRES ACTUALLY LAST LONGER. I BELIEVE THIS BRAKING PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND FROM DAY ONE. I THINK RAY LAHOOD SHOULD CHECK FREQUENCY OF THIS REPAIR AGAINST CUSTOMERS RECORDS, IT MIGHT REVEAL A CONSISTENT FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10307794

Incident

Jun 6, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

I DRIVE A USED 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 86,000 MILES ON IT. IN NOVEMBER 2009 I WAS PARKING WHEN THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 2MPH, MY FOOT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ON THE BRAKE WHILE EASING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, PRIOR TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING I HEARD THE ENGINE RACE AND THE CAR BOLTED FORWARD, UNRESPONSIVE TO MY BRAKING. I ONLY STOPPED WHEN MY CAR COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS MOVED ABOUT TWO FEET BY OUR COLLISION. IT HAPPENED TOO FAST TO EVEN THINK OF CHANGING GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, BECAUSE I WAS ONLY 5 FEET FROM THE OTHER CAR WHEN THE SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I LOOKED FOR CAUSE AND I DETERMINED THAT NO OBJECT IN THE CAB HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, INCLUDING THE FLOOR MAT. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF DRIVERS EXPERIENCING UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION OUT OF THE MILLIONS OF TOYOTAS SOLD, THAT THE PHENOMENON IS CAUSED BY TWO OR MORE INDEPENDENT ERRORS IN THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS, OCCURRING UNFORTUNATELY AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONFLUENCE OF TWO UNLIKELY EVENTS HAS EVEN SMALLER PROBABILITY, THEREFORE FEW OCCURRENCES. FOR EXAMPLE IF THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE AND ALSO THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE SIGNAL FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO BRAKE DRUMS, THE COMBINATION COULD BE TRAGIC. THE TOYOTA PRIUS 2002 MODEL WHICH I DRIVE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED; HOWEVER SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE BEEN EVER ON THE ALERT, PREPARED TO GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. EVEN THIS VIGILANCE WILL NOT PROVIDE SAFETY IF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MY CAR AND AN OBSTACLE OR CREVASSE IS SHORT WHEN THE FLAW SURFACES AGAIN; GIVEN THE FINITE SPEED OF HUMAN NERVOUS TRANSMISSION, THE CAR'S SUDDEN, UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *CN

NHTSA ID

10307057

Incident

Nov 15, 2009

Mileage

86,000 mi

2002 PRIUS SUDDENLY SPEEDED UP JUST BEFORE I GOT TO WAIST HIGH BACK DECK OF OUR HOUSE. I HIT THE CLIP ON SUNVISOR. HAD 25 STITCHES IN SCALP. HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MODEL IN RECALL. CAR WAS TOTALED. DID NOT HAVE ON SEATBELT AS I WAS ONLY GETTING THE PAPER AT THE END OF LONG DRIVEWAY EARLY IN THE AM.*JB

NHTSA ID

10306160

Incident

Oct 29, 2009

Mileage

49,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE CAR STALLED AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 37 MPH. THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. ON NOVEMBER 14, 2005 THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE COOLANT SENSOR IN THE TRANSAXLE. THE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 23, 2005 THE PROBLEM STOPPED. PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 THE ONBOARD COMPUTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEM. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK UPDATED 12/2705. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143809

Incident

Sep 6, 2005

I HAD JUST LEFT ONE AREA OF A PARKING LOT AND WAS TRAVELING TO ANOTHER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (5 TO 15 MPH) SO MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS RUNNING UNDER ELECTRICAL POWER. I TURNED RIGHT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE BETWEEN TWO SUVS, COASTING IN WITH MY FOOT OVER THE BREAK PEDAL. WHEN I WAS MORE THAN HALFWAY INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD JUMPING THE CURB AND STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HIT A STONE PILLAR. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN (AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF MY 13 YEAR OLD SON WAS ALRIGHT, I SAW THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. FORTUNATELY NO PEDESTRIAN WAS IN THE WALKWAY, AND I DID NOT HIT THE SUV TO MY RIGHT OR LEFT. HOWEVER, THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WAS NOT A RESULT OF PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138243

Incident

Sep 24, 2005

Mileage

42,240 mi

2002 NEW TOYOTA PRIUS DELIVERED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES. THESE TIRES HAVE FAILED AFTER 12,000 MILES. THEN CHANGED TIRES (ALL 4) WHICH FAILED AT 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA CORPORATE SAYS ITS NOT THEIR CONCERN. DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT SAFE TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED TIRES EVERY 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA CORPORATE RECOMMENDS THESE TIRES AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10072650

Incident

May 11, 2003

Mileage

14,000 mi