2007 Toyota Prius Other / unspecified Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while at a stop light, she attempted to drive however, the vehicle failed to exceed 25 MPH. The HC battery, ECU, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle displayed DTC code: P3190 (Engine Failure). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the hybrid battery was severely drained, and the mechanic retrieved DTC codes: P3000 and P0A80 for the hybrid battery pack. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, who replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. The contact stated the vehicle was actually overfilled with oil at the mechanic's shop that performed the oil change, so that is what caused the issues with my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11525645

Incident

May 30, 2023

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY CAR HAS A CLUNKING/RATTLE SOUND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROADS EVEN WITHOUT BRAKES SLIGHTLY ENGAGED. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH ON SMOOTH ROADS BUT IF I TURN WHEELS SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT THE SOUND STOPS AND WHEN I TURN THEM BACK STRAIGHT IT BEGINS AGAIN. IT IS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN FEEL IT ON YOUR FEET AND STRONGLY THRU THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO THE FRONT TIRES WEAR HEAVILY ON THE INSIDE EDGE. IT FEELS LIKE STEERING COLUMN MAY BE LOOSE AT TIMES. ALSO THE HORN KEEPS BLOWING FUSES AND WHEN YOU PUT A NEW FUSE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL SHOCK YOU E EVERY TIME YOU TRY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WILL NOT READ TEMP. I HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON TO REPLACE OLD FRONT TIRES AND ROTATED ALL AND BALANCED AND JUST HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON FROM DEALSHIP. RADIO RECEPTION IS HORRIBLE EVEN THOUGH OTHER VEHICLES IN SAME AREA GET GREAT RECEPTION. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT I DID BUY IT USED SO I AM NOT SURE IF ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN FIXED OR IF THEY NEED FIXED AGAIN. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MECHANICS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING.*DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11102659

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

TRAVELING STRAIGHT AHEAD, ~30MPH ON CITY STREET , FRONT TIRE (MICHELIN DT008-35670-MI, 185/65R15) BLEW FOR UNKNOWN REASON. CAR SWERVED TO RIGHT INTO UTILITY POLE, REMOVING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, WHEEL CONNECTIONS, FENDER, HEADLIGHT. (CAR "TOTALED" BY INSURER.) STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG ACTIVATED. DRIVER (SOLE OCCUPANT) SUFFERED FRACTURES OF RIGHT HAND, WRIST, 3 RIBS AND STERNUM, APPARENTLY DUE TO IMPACT OF AIRBAG. DRIVER WAS WEARING BELT/HARNESS.

NHTSA ID

10969898

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES LOST TRACTION AND THE VEHICLE SLID OFF A MOUNTAIN CURVE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND SOME DEEP TISSUE BRUISING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED, BUT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,800.

NHTSA ID

10898521

Incident

Aug 11, 2016

Mileage

52,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES RANDOMLY FLICKERED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V536000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING , HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10862477

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

I AM REPORTING A DEFECTIVE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TRUNK HATCH RELEASE. THE MATERIAL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. IT APPEARS TO BE A GENERAL ISSUE DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL AND FAULTY DESIGN BY TOYOTA. THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS CRUCIAL FUNCTION IS OBSCENELY HIGH (AROUND $500). *TR

NHTSA ID

10553569

Incident

Nov 22, 2013

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT. IT GOES OUT AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I REPLACED THE BULB AND IT STILL GOES OUT. THE COST OF BULBS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM AND HAVE ALL 2007 PRIUS RECALLED. ONE ACCIDENT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CATASTROPHE ON THE ROADS BECAUSE LIGHTS TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE IS UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550575

Incident

Oct 20, 2013

HATCH LATCHES SHOULD NOT MELT DOWN IN 2-3 YEARS, AND ACCESS TO THE HATCH IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. AS WITH MANY OTHER 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES THE RUBBER MATERIAL ON THE HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH HAS BEEN DETERIORATING ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO USE. WITHOUT AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT BY TOYOTA THE PART WILL FAIL BEYOND THE ABILITY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL THE PART AND REPLACE IT AS A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546107

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

THE HATCHBACK RELEASE LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543541

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533059

Incident

Jul 25, 2013

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. I LIVE IN LOUISIANA . TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $600, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN LOUISIANA, FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. AND NOW MY TRUNK WON'T OPEN AND IT IS ABOUT DETACH FROM THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA PULLING NEEDED TO OPEN IT. WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN RECALLED? IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $600 TO DO IT AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503705

Incident

May 10, 2009

2007 PRIUS TRUNK HATCH RELEASE RUBBER PIECE MELTED AND I HAD TO REPLACED IT WITH MY OWN MONEY IN TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496122

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE ONE EVENING, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FLICKERED AND WENT OUT. I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON THEN THEY WENT BACK ON. EVER SINCE THIS THE LIGHTS(DRIVER SIDE) GO OFF AND USUALLY COME BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF. NO RESOLUTION TO THIS AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA SINCE I APPEAR TO NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492048

Incident

Dec 7, 2012

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 1 YEAR OF OWNING MY PRE-OWNED 2007 PRIUS, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NOTICED AN INCREASE AFTER A PARTICULARLY HOT SPELL. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3-5 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN CA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479625

Incident

Jun 6, 2012

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN CALIFORNIA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $200 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN CALIFORNIA FOR EXAMPLE). *TR

NHTSA ID

10425330

Incident

Jul 14, 2011

HEADLAMP BULBS BURN OUT VERY QUICKLY LEADING TO REPEATED CHANGE OF THE BULBS AT $250 A PIECE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10414871

Incident

Feb 10, 2008

Mileage

25,000 mi

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING AFTER HITTING BUMPS ON THE ROAD. I WAS BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR PROPELLED FORWARD 2-3 TIMES, THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED TWICE ALL WHY I HAD FULL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. LUCKILY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD NOT STOPPED COMPLETELY OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IMPACT AS I HAD NO METHOD OF MAKING THE CAR STOP MOVING FORWARD. THE CAR WILL ALSO PROPEL FORWARD WHEN GOING OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS OR OTHER BUMPS/POTHOLES IN THE ROAD. FROM A DRIVER STANDPOINT, IF THE CAR LOSES CONTACT WITH THE ROAD THERE IS SOMETHING ELECTRONIC THAT CAUSES IT TO ACCELERATE EVEN IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396752

Incident

Apr 14, 2011

Mileage

58,800 mi

WHENEVER I BRAKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, SUCH AS A MANHOLE COVER, POTHOLE, OR COBBLESTONE ROAD, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES AND FOR A MOMENT THE BRAKE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING, THE CAR IS NOT SLOWING. I AM WORRIED IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF ANOTHER CAR WERE CLOSE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN MY HUSBAND MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND THE MOMENT WITHOUT BRAKING IS TOO LONG FOR COMFORT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332342

Incident

May 25, 2010

MY 2007 PRIUS HAS THE HID HEADLAMPS, WHICH ARE TOO COSTLY TO REPAIR AND WILL RANDOMLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT...CLEARLY DANGEROUS. I TRY TO HAVE THE BULBS REPLACED AND TOYOTA DEALER SAYS ITS A 200.00 TO 300.00 DOLLAR JOB TO REPAIR (MONEY THAT I DO NOT HAVE) WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE LAS VEGAS DEALER FIXED THE ISSUE ( OR I THOUGHT THEY DID) BUT LESS THEN TWO YEARS LATER I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOW TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR IT CAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS WRONG THEY TRIED AND FAILED TO FIX NOW I GUESS I AM NO LONGER A GOOD CUSTOMER. WHY WILL THEY NOT FIX A DANGER SITUATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10331067

Incident

May 16, 2010

Mileage

63,000 mi

THIS FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER ONE WHEEL LOOSES TRACTION WITH THE ROAD. INSTEAD OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKING KICKING IN, THE BRAKES ON ALL WHEELS ARE BACKED OFF GIVING THE FEELING THE CAR IS ACCELERATING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP OR SNOW. ON SNOW YOU HAVE TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL BRAKING DISTANT. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331010

Incident

May 12, 2010

Mileage

22,130 mi

FOR APPROXIMATELY THE PAST SIX MONTHS THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IN OUR CAR HAS GONE OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THIS OCCURS WHEN THERE IS ANY VIBRATION IN THE ROAD FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. ADDITIONALLY, OUR CAR ACCELERATES AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329464

Incident

May 8, 2010

Mileage

35,500 mi

ON MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010, IN THE MORNING, ON A RAINY DAY IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED. I WAS DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS WITH STEEL PLATES BETWEEN THE TRACKS IN MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. I BRAKED BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I HAD TIME TO ACTUALLY LOOK DOWN AT MY FEET TO CONFIRM THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY THE BRAKES THAT I WAS APPLYING MAJOR PRESSURE TO. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON INDICATING THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE TRACTION. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH WERE, "I HAD NO BRAKES, I'M SO SORRY, BUT I HAD NO BRAKES." THE INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR MY CAR IS OVER $6,000, I HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THE ESTIMATE IS FOR THE OTHER CAR. I DID EVERYTHING I COULD HAVE DONE, THE CAR FAILED ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325843

Incident

Apr 12, 2010

Mileage

45,000 mi

I NOTICED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT THE "SLIPPERY" SIGN ON MY PRIUS 2007 CAME ON MANY TIMES EVEN UNDER VERY SAFE ROAD CONDITIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I DID A RIGHT TURN SLOWLY, THE "SLIPPERY" SIGN WOULD COME ON. ON FEBRUARY 26, 2010. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT STARTED TO SLEET. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR LOST CONTROL AND STARTED TO SPIN UNTIL IT HIT THE SNOW BANK ON THE ROAD SIDE. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE CAR SLIPPED TWICE WHEN I APPROACHED STOP SIGNS SLOWLY AND APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY. WE EXAMINED THE REAR TIRES WHICH WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 48,000 MILES ON AND THE MARKINGS WERE MOSTLY WORN OUT. I WOULD ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE OLD TIRES PASSED INSPECTION ON THE SAME DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND WE JUST CHANGED THE TIRES HOPING TO IMPROVE THE TRACTION. AFTER THE TIRES WERE CHANGED ON MARCH 6, 2010, IT SLIPPED ONCE IN THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS UNDER THE SAME SITUATION WHEN I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN SLOWLY AND APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ALL PERFECT WHEN THESE 3 SLIPPAGES HAPPENED AFTER FEB. 26, 2010. I HAVE READ SOME ARTICLES(CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM) AND CHAT ROOMS(PRIUSCHAT.COM) ONLINE AND FOUND QUITE A FEW SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10321196

Incident

Feb 26, 2010

Mileage

48,000 mi

I HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS OVER-SENSITIVITY OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY CAR. IT CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS IN THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS: A) IF I AM DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, SAY 20 MPH, ON A SMOOTH, DRY PAVED ROAD AND THEN "PANIC BREAK" THE TRAC SYSTEM KICKS IN AND TEMPORARILY CUTS POWER TO MY CAR, RESULTING IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. B) IF I AM WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND THERE IS EVEN A MODERATE AMOUNT OF GRAVEL ON THE ROAD OR THE ROAD IS WET, THEN I ACCELERATE TO MAKE MY RIGHT TURN, THE TRAC SYSTEM AGAIN KICKS IN, RESULTING IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I HAVE BEEN COMPENSATING FOR THESE OCCURRENCES, HOWEVER I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR YET NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY LITERALLY JUST SAID THAT THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO." WELL THEN MAYBE IT IS THE DESIGN THAT NEEDS TO BE RE ASSESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320292

Incident

Feb 15, 2010

Mileage

45,081 mi

THIS EVENT HAS OCCURED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WITH MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES AND GO OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS AND THE BRAKES WEAKEN FOR A MOMENT. THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND THE BREAKS FEEL LIKE THEY GO BACK TO FULL STRENGTH. I AM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE MODIFIED MY DRIVING BECASUE OF IT. RECENTLY WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION I HAD TO SLOW VERY QUICKLY AND HIT A POTHOLE WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I TRAVELED SEVERAL FEET FURTHER BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE NOT REACTING AT FULL STRENGTH WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER 2007 OWNERS COMPLAINING BUT WHEN I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I CONTACTED MY DEALER BECAUSE IT MADE ME SO UPSET. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT FROM THE MOMENT I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR (WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK) TO CURRENT, IF I AM BREAKING AND HITTING A BUMP OR POTHOLE OF SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTANCE AT THE SAME TIME - THIS SITUATION REPLAYS ITSELF. THE DATE OF INCIDENT IS AROUND THE FIRST DATE OF THE FIRST OCCURANCE. IT HAS HAPPENED NEARLY 100+ TIMES SINCE THEN.

NHTSA ID

10319239

Incident

May 18, 2006

Mileage

650 mi