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2008 Toyota Prius Electronic Stability Control Esc Problems

8 owner-reported electronic stability control esc complaints from NHTSA data

8
Complaints
Feb 2010Oct 2010
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (8)

mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Mar 2020

MY PRIUS RECALL THE ABS SYSTEM. BUT I AM NO RECEIVE ANY LETTER.TOYOTA DOES NOT SEND LETTER.

NHTSA #: 11317626
mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jul 2015

I PURCHASED MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE IN 2014. EVERY TIME THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD -- BE IT A MAN HOLD, RAILROAD TRACKS -- THE CAR TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD FOR 1-2 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES. IT IS A COMMONPLACE OCCURRENCE WHEN GOING OVER ANY KIND OF UNEVEN SURFACE ON THE ROAD. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS COMMON IN THE 2008 PRIUS AND I AM WONDERING WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN INVESTIGATED. ON JULY 12TH, I WAS DRIVING IN KY IN HEAVY RAIN, GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, I BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 60MPH AND I ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR SIXTEEN YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HYDROPLANED. MY FEAR IS THE CAR DOING THE SAME THING IN RAIN THAT IT DOES ON UNEVEN SURFACES ON DRY ROAD -- LURCHING FORWARD SLIGHTLY WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN.

NHTSA #: 10744825
mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Oct 2010

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL. WHEN THE CAR IS GOING UP OR DOWN A HILL THAT IS SLIPPERY, ICY OR SNOWY, THE VSC KICKS IN, AND ALL POWER IS SHUT OFF TO THE SPINNING WHEEL (S). THIS RENDERS THE CAR UNUSABLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC, AND BARELY ESCAPED RUNNING INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, BUT THIS FEATURE IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS AND EVEN FATAL. TOYOTA SHOULD BE PERSUADED TO OFFER OR INSTALL A WAY TO TEMPORARILY DISABLE THE VSC. *TR

NHTSA #: 10362144
mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Feb 2010

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND APPARENTLY I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2010'S IN THE RECALL. AFTER READING THE DESCRIPTION FROM NEW RELEASES I REALIZE THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THE EVENT IS REPRODUCIBLE AND OCCURS WHENEVER I'M BRAKING AND THE CAR HITS THE SLIGHTEST BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD. IF I DO NOT LET GO OF THE BRAKE JUST BEFORE THE BUMP/DIP/SMALL POTHOLE, THE BRAKE SEEMS TO DISENGAGE AND THE CAR FEELS AS IF ITS LURCHING FORWARD. THE ENGINE DOES NOT SEEM TO REV BUT THERE IS A DEFINITE FEELING OF ACCELERATION. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PRETTY MUCH SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT DID NOT THINK ALL TO MUCH OF IT, I JUST ADJUSTED MY DRIVING HABITS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. ( I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL WAS JUST TOO SENSITIVE) I DRIVE THROUGH OUT THE DAY AND A ROAD I TRAVEL ON HAS GOTTEN PRETTY BEAT UP WITH ALL THE SNOW REMOVAL SO I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL DRIVING ON THIS ROAD IF THERE IS ANY TRAFFIC, AS I MUST ANTICIPATE THE BUMPS/DIPS AND BRAKE ACCORDINGLY OTHERWISE THIS EVENT WILL OCCUR. AGAIN THE ISSUE IS REPRODUCIBLE THANKFULLY I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10307858
mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Feb 2010

OWN 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ANTI- LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM. WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS OR POTHOLES FEELS THAT THE CAR HAS NO CONTROL ALMOST LIKE DRIVING ON ICE. THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURING MORE FREQUENTLY. ALSO, MAKING TURNS THE BRAKES SEEM TO GRAB AND THEN EVENTULALLY RELEASE. WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A OFF RAMP , THE ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM CONTINUALLY EMPLOYED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR AROUND THE TURN.

NHTSA #: 10307370
mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Feb 2010

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS. IF I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE STABILITY SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON, THE BRAKE SEEMS TO RELEASE FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT I WANTED TO REPORT IT SINCE THE 2010 PRIUS IS BEING INVESTIGATED

NHTSA #: 10307443
mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Feb 2010

CAN'T BRAKE EFFECTIVELY ON SNOW OR WHEN CAR HITS A POT HOLE *TW

NHTSA #: 10307244
mediumELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Feb 2010

CAR SEEMS TO SLIP ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. WHEN DRIVEN OVER POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE WHEELS SEEM TO SPEED UP BEFORE STABILIZING BACK. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10306355

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