2005 Toyota Prius Other / unspecified Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN INVERTER WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V563000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10990902

Incident

May 21, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 75 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED IN ADDITION TO THE INVERTER COOLING SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYING. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE WAS STILL PRESENT ONCE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V536000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION SIX MONTHS PRIOR AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE OF WHEN THE VEHICLE COULD BE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ID

10583486

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

Mileage

153,000 mi

TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED ON A HILL WITH LIGHT SNOW COVER COMPLETELY STOPPING THE WHEELS AND PREVENTING ANY FORWARD MOTION, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PEDESTRIANS HAD TO PUSH THE CAR UP THE HILL WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO GET TO THE TOP. BACKING WOULD HAVE PLACED THE CAR IN A DANGEROUS POSITION WITH ONCOMING 50 MPH CROSS TRAFFIC . THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERRIDE FOR SITUATIONS SUCH AS THIS TO ENABLE SOME FORWARD MOTION TO BE MAINTAINED EVEN IF THERE IS SOME WHEEL SLIPPAGE. OCCURRED FRIDAY 14 FEB 2014. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST ON GRAVEL DRIVEWAYS AND OTHER ROADS. THIS INSTANCE WAS BY FAR THE MOST TROUBLING SINCE PEDESTRIANS WERE INVOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564706

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

Mileage

155,000 mi

THE TRACTION CONTROL OVERRIDE REPEATEDLY ENGAGES ARBITRARILY UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING HITTING BUMPS/POTHOLES AT 35 MPH AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ON BOTH WET AND DRY ROADS. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ONLINE OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THIS FEATURE IN SNOW, BUT OUR PRIUS DOES IT FREQUENTLY. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVENIENCE, THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS FEATURE CANNOT BE DISABLED, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TO AVOID POTENTIAL COLLISIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557264

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

Mileage

102,000 mi

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT I HEAD A SNAPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE WHEELS STOPPED TURNING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN, BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. *TR*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

10520180

Incident

Jun 17, 2013

Mileage

77,201 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INVERTER CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REPAIRS COMPLETED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V536000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER) MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000...UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF..UPDATED 01/16/2013 *BF UPDATED 1/18/2013 *JS THE CONSUMER IS STILL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 1/28/2013*JS

NHTSA ID

10490729

Incident

Dec 21, 2012

Mileage

116,000 mi

MY PRIUS EXHIBITS REMOVAL OF ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS DURING ACCELERATION WHEN TURNING SHARPLY RIGHT OR LEFT ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE. THIS OCCURS AS SOON AS ONE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SLIPS. ORDINARILY THIS IS ONLY A MINOR AGGRAVATION, AND EASING ON THE THROTTLE USUALLY RESTORES POWER BUT IN ICING CONDITIONS IT'S DANGEROUS. THERE ARE CONDITIONS WHERE I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR WHEN CROSSING A SMALL BERM OF SNOW (3 INCHES HIGH WHERE ONE WHEEL HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LESS TRACTION THAN THE OTHER. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OVER IT. IT APPEARS TO BE A SOFTWARE ISSUE, BUT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489211

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

85 mi

AT RANDOM, THE CAR DOES NOT START. THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT. MY NEIGHBOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SO DID A FRIEND OF MINE. AAA TOLD ME THAT IN THE WINTER THE CAR IS PARTICULARLY PRONE TO HAVING TROUBLE STARTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381750

Incident

Feb 13, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

1. WHILE DRIVING OVER RR TRACKS, A LACK OF BRAKE RESPONSE (OR FEEL) - HAPPENED ONCE IN 2008. MENTIONED TO DEALER, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS A TYPICAL PROBLEM. 2. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL ON A SLIPPERY ROAD, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS NO FEEL OF BRAKING. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A CURB. HAPPENED JAN/2010. MENTIONED TO DEALER, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS A TYPICAL PROBLEM. 3. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL ON SLIPPERY ROADS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN TO A STOP, OR NOT GO AT A S&G LIGHT. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY IN 2010. MENTIONED TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FUNCTION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL THAT PREVENTED TIRES FROM SPINNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330170

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

BRAKING MOMENTARILY FAILS AFTER HITTING A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR OTHER ROAD IRREGULARITY. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE ISSUE PERFECTLY. HTTP://WWW.THEDETROITBUREAU.COM/2009/12/NHTSA-TRACKING-BRAKING-LOSS-ON-PRIUS-HYBRIDS/#MORE-17003 DEALERS SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE HAVE SAID THERE WAS "NOTHING WRONG". *TR

NHTSA ID

10329440

Incident

May 3, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

I HAD BEEN PULLED OVER ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS FOR FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THEN MY CHILDREN TOLD ME OF THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS GOING OUT FOR NO REASON. I DID NOT BELIEVE THEM TILL THE WENT OUT ON ME. AFTER TAKING IT TO SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS AND SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, ON 09/10/2009 I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH A "MONICA" FROM THE NHTSA IN DC. I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING TO THIS DATE AND I AM AFRAID OF A SERIOUS CRASH WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT KNOWING WHY. I ALSO HAVE A CHECK LIGHT THAT HAS BEEN ON SINCE BEFORE MY WARRANTY WENT OUT AND NO ONE WANTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HATE THIS CAR, IT SCARES ME AND THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES AND I HAVE TO DATE ONLY RECEIVED ONE RECALL AND THAT IS ON THE MATS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329123

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

48 MPH TRAVELING NORTH ON OR 217; WITHOUT CAUSE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON ABS WARNING LIGHT ON VSC WARNING LIGHT ON AUDIBLE ALARM STEADY TONE THEN TRY TO STOP: BRAKE PEDAL UP HIGH, BRAKE PEDAL UNRESPONSIVE AND HARD TO PRESS, IMMEDIATELY PULLED OF ON ALLEN EXIT; BRAKES STILL UNRESPONSIVE, PRESSED MAXIMUM FORCE ON BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES LOCKED UP THE WHEELS SKIDDING AND BURNING RUBBER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326401

Incident

Apr 17, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS--EXPERIENCES BRAKING AND HANDLING FAILURES WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN OR WET SURFACES. WHEN WE ARE BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE, GRAVEL, RAILROAD TRACKS OR WET SURFACES, THE CAR FEELS AS IF WE ARE LOSING CONTROL OF IT, AND BRAKING SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY STOP. THE "SKID DANGER" LIGHT COMES ON, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY TIME WE BRAKE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. ALSO, AT IDLE (IE. STOPLIGHTS), THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY LURCH FORWARD SLIGHTLY, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE TRANSFERS FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS. WE WERE TOLD EARLY IN OUR OWNERSHIP THAT THIS IS NORMAL "DIESELING". THESE HAVE BEEN ON-GOING PROBLEMS, SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 (NEW), THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE "IMAGINING" UNTIL HEARING ALL OF THE REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS.TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THE PRIUS BRAKING ISSUES ONLY AFFECT THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT WE SEE IT FIRSTHAND ON AN ON-GOING BASIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325388

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE LEFT AND RIGHT HID HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY, THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOES OUT WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM, THERE ARE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS LINKED TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFTEY RECALL ON ALL TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE ELECTRONICS COST MORE THAN $1,000 TO REPLACE.

NHTSA ID

10322928

Incident

Feb 28, 2010

Mileage

136,488 mi

HAVING JUST STARTED THE CAR AND ENROUTE TO MY DESTINATION, I WAS ON A CITY STREET FOLLOWING A LARGE LANDSCAPE TRUCK TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH.. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. ALTHOUGH THE TRUCK'S BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON, I PERCEIVED THE TRUCK WAS GRADUALLY SLOWING. IN ANTICIPATION OF MAKING A STOP, I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN THE TRUCK'S DRIVER APPLIED HIS BRAKES, I ALSO APPLIED MY BRAKES INTENDING TO COME TO A GENTLE STOP BY LIGHTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL 'SOFTENED' AND MY PRIUS CONTINUED TO COAST WITH NO BRAKING AT ALL. SINCE THE TRUCK'S SIZE AND WIDTH OBSCURED SIGHT OF ANY ON-COMING TRAFFIC, I COULDN'T TURN OUT OF MY LANE AND AS A RESULT REAR- ENDED THE TRUCK. SINCE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK OR INJURIES, A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED; HOWEVER, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY INSURANCE AGENT AND WAS AUTHORIZED TO DRIVE TO AN APPROVED BODY SHOP. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT ON MARCH 19TH 2010 WITH MY TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK MY CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKE PADS/SHOES, BRAKING FLUID WERE FOUND TO BE FINE, BUT NO ANALYSIS OF THE COMPUTER BRAKING SYSTEM WAS DISCUSSED. ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISER, THE BRAKING FAILURE COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED AND THEIR MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING MECHANICAL THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH TOYOTA'S SERVICE ADVISER'S DISMISSIVE POSITION REGARDING MY BRAKE'S FAILURE. DESPITE THEIR INABILITY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THE SERVICE ADVISER INSISTS THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT OFFERS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM. IN THE PAST I'VE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA SERVICE ABOUT THE INTERMITTENT 'FLOATY' FEELING I EXPERIENCE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. NO EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS EVER OFFERED TO ME, AND INDEED, THE BRAKES FINALLY FAILED. SINCE NO ONE AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IS WILLING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE SATISFACTORILY, I FIND IT NECESSARY TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT

NHTSA ID

10322761

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

64,714 mi

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES AND CAR ACCELERATES WHEN ENCOUNTERING SUDDEN BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS WHEN HITTING BUMPS WHILE THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. I HAVE INFORMED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS AND THEY NEVER REPLIED. THE AFFECTED CAR IS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 65,000 MILES. PURCHASED CPO IN AUGUST OF 2009 FROM A TOYOTA DEALER. THIS ISSUE IS A REPEAT OCCURANCE. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE IN EXCESS OF 20 TIMES SINCE I'VE ASSUMED THIS CAR AND NOTICED PRIOR TO THE MASSIVE RECALL NOISE IN THE MEDIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ID

10322171

Incident

Mar 24, 2010

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL LOCK THE DRIVE WHEELS LEAVING YOU STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD/TURN. THE ACCELERATOR CAN BE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR - ENGINE RACING - I HAVE HAD TO SIT FOR 30-45 SECONDS BEFORE SYSTEM RELEASED THE DRIVE WHEELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314221

Incident

Jan 10, 2007

Mileage

10,000 mi

2005 PRIUS BRAKES FAIL TEMPORARY WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPY SURFACE. IT OCCURS WEEKLY. NO CONSEQUENCES YET. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10313105

Incident

Feb 23, 2010

MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2005 PRIUS FROM WILDE TOYOTA IN WEST ALLIS, WI. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE ON ICY ROADS, SLICK ROADS, AND SNOW COVERED ROADS. WE HAVE HAD THREE BRAKE FAILURES. THE FIRST WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE-STREET. I WAS GOING SLOW, LESS THEN 15 MILES PER HOUR, AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO MAKE A TURN. THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE FOR APROX. 2 SECONDS CAUSING ME TO ROLL BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THE SECOND OCCURED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, UNDER 40 MILES AN HOUR, ON A MAIN ROAD. AS SHE APPROACHED THE STOPLIGHT SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, WHICH ALSO FAILED TO ENGAGE. DUE TO HER HIGHER SPEED SHE ROLLED OVER 10 FEET AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER BEFORE THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED. THE FINAL OCCURANCE ALSO OCCURED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, THIS TIME AT A HIGHER SPEED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES ON AN OVERPASS THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE CAR PHYSICALLY SEEMED TO SHAKE A BIT. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO STOP FOR SEVERAL FEET THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED. WE BELIEVE THESE OCCURANCES ARE DUE TO AN ERROR WITH OUR ABS SYSTEM. IN EACH OCCURANCE THE "SLIPPERY ROAD" WARNING HAS APPEARED. WE TOOK IT TO WILDE TAYOTA THIS MORNING. AFTER SOFTWARE TESTING AS WELL AS ROAD TESTING ON THEIR SNOW COVERED LOT THEY FAILED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO SYSTEM ERRORS WERE PRESENT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. WE ARE, HOWEVER, STILL CONVINCED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. IF IT OCCURS AGAIN WE WILL ONCE AGAIN TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308724

Incident

Feb 3, 2010

I OWN A 2005 PRIUS, BOUGHT NEW. I NOW HAVE 130,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AND MAINTAINED AT SCHEDULED INTERVALS, MOSTLY BY A TOYOTA DEALER. #1: I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SINCE THE FIRST WINTER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT THE "TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" IS DANGEROUS IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHENEVER THE ROAD IS SLIPPERY, IF THE CAR SENSES WHEELSPIN, IT CUTS POWER TO THE ENGINE. THIS IS SCARY IF YOU'RE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ON A RAINY DAY, AS THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES JUST QUIT RUNNING FOR A SECOND, LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SNOW IS FAR WORSE. I LIVE ON A HILLY ROAD. IF IT'S SNOWY THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN, AND SIMPLY STOP TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE FIRST STEEP SLOPE I COME TO. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I MASH ON THE ACCELERATOR, OR IF I BACK OFF AND TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE. ONCE THE CAR STOPS MOVING FORWARD IT BEGINS TO SLIDE BACKWARDS, AND CONTROL IS TOTALLY LOST. I WAS NEARLY KILLED THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED (IN ABOUT ONE INCH OF SNOW) AS MY CAR EVENTUALLY SLIPPED SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. AN SUV CAME DOWN THE HILL AND NEARLY BROADSIDED ME BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TURNED BACK DOWN THE HILL. (MY CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH AGGRESSIVE SNOW TIRES AT THE TIME.) EVER SINCE THEN, IF I'M COMING HOME FROM WORK IN THE SNOW, I LEAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOPPING CENTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND CALL MY HUSBAND, WHO PICKS ME UP WITH HIS FORD BRONCO. # 2: ANTI-LOCK BRAKING. THE 2010 PRIUS'S AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WITH PROBLEMS; MINE DOES THE SAME THING. IF I'M BRAKING ON A BUMPY STRETCH OF ROAD OR OVER A MANHOLE COVER IN THE RAIN, THE CAR WILL CUT POWER TO THE BRAKES, CAUSING THE CAR TO FEEL LIKE IT'S SURGING FORWARD. AGAIN THIS PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE IN THE SNOW. GOING DOWNHILL ON A SNOWY, SLIPPERY HILL THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES REPEATEDLY CUT BRAKING POWER, WHICH ACTUALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE TO UNSAFE SPEEDS. MY DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS HOW THE CAR WORKS, AND NOTHING CAN BE DOME TO CORRECT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308430

Incident

Dec 10, 2005

Mileage

1,000 mi

SEVERAL TIMES OVER PAST 5 YEARS MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ABS SYSTEM HAD RELEASED THE BRAKES FOR UNCOMFORTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME (0.5-1.0 SECONDS) WHEN COMING TO A STOP OVER SLIGHTLY BUMPY ROAD. IF I DIDN'T KEEP GOOD DISTANCE I COULD HAVE CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308012

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

2005 PRIUS LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TIRE SLIPPAGE (TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATION.: WHEN THE VEHICLE DETECTS A TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING (GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, RAIN OR WET CONDITIONS, LOOSE GRAVEL, ETC.) ALL POWER IS CUT TO THE WHEELS LEAVING THE CAR IN AN UNCONTROLLED SKIDDING CONDITION. THERE IS NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKING TO THE WHEELS (PULSED ON-OFF-ON) TO KEEP CONTROL. PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR STOPPING ON WET ROADS HAS ALMOST LED TO ME BEING HIT OR HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR PEDESTRIAN. PRIUS OWNERS OF THE SECOND GENERATION HAVE WELL DOCUMENTED BEING UNABLE TO GO UP DRIVEWAYS AND MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED ACCIDENTS. *TW

NHTSA ID

10307248

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A 2005 PRIUS. IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING FROM A NORMAL SPEED, THE CAR WILL BRIEFLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSES ADDITIONAL BRAKING PRESSURE TO BE NEEDED AND PRECISE STEERING. MANY PRIUS OWNERS SINCE 2004 HAVE INDICATED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10306509

Incident

Feb 5, 2010

Mileage

100 mi

WHEN APPROACHING A LIGHT, I CHANGED LANES INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE, APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, LET UP ON THE BRAKE TO GO OVER A DEPRESSED AREA WHERE A PIPE WAS BEING REPLACED AND THE ROAD REPAIRED. I THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES FIRMLY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON WHEN I WENT OVER THE BUMP AND IT TOOK ABOUT 2 SECONDS OF HEADING TOWARDS THE BACK OF A TRUCK FOR THE BREAKS TO ENGAGE AT ALL. WHEN THEY FINALLY ENGAGED, THE CAR STOPPED VERY QUICKLY (AS I WOULD EXPECT) AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY THE PERSON BEHIND ME. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES NOT ENGAGE ON ONE OTHER INCIDENT THAT ALSO INVOLVED SWITCHING LANES AND A BUMP. TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS ON THIS PRIUS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT KILL. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE "BRAKING PROBLEM" WAS "LIMITED" TO 2010 PRIUSES. IT IS NOT. THIS ISSUE HAS CLEARLY OCCURRED TWICE FOR ME IN THE PAST 5 YEARS OF MODERATE DRIVING (ABOUT 10K MILES PER YEAR). TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT I WAS MAKING IT UP, IT NEVER HAPPENED, I MUST HAVE NOT PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. I NEVER RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND THE CAR STOPPED JUST FINE AFTER A SIGNIFICANT DELAY. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10306212

Incident

Oct 15, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 HAS THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA TODAY FOR THE 2010 MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE SKID CONTROL CAUSES A SUDDEN POWER LOSS DURING ACCELERATION IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED WITH BRAKING FAILURES IN THE 2010 MODEL (POTHOLES, EVEN SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD, RAPID ACCELERATION AROUND CURVES, IN ADDITION TO WHEN THERE IS ICE ON THE ROAD) THAT REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN FIXED. ALTHOUGH THE COMPLETE POWER LOSS LASTS LESS THAN A SECOND RECOVERY OF POWER IS SLOW ENOUGH TO HAVE STRANDED ME IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAITING FOR ACCELERATION IN A NUMBER SITUATIONS WHERE THERE WAS NO RISK ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS OF TRACTION. I CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND TRIED FILED A COMPLAINT (I WAS REALLY PERSISTENT), BUT THEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DESIGN FLAW SAYING ONLY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT THE VEHICLE, AS DESIGNED, WAS DANGEROUS, THEY ONLY REITERATED THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND REFUSED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION. IT FELT TO ME THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT ADMITTING THE PROBLEM COULD AVALANCHE INTO A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING AND PERSISTENT ISSUE THAT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR (FOUR PLUS YEARS). *TR

NHTSA ID

10305711

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

5 mi