MyCarTSB

2010 Toyota Prius Transmission Problems

64 owner-reported transmission complaints from NHTSA data

64
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
Jan 2011Dec 2015
Date Range

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

Owner Complaints (64)

highPOWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jul 2025

Your accelerator pedal went all the way to the floor while driving downhill at 45 mph, but your car didn't speed up as expected. After turning the car off and back on several times, it worked normally again. The problem happened again later when turning at a low speed on a downhill stretch. The vehicle wasn't repaired, and both the dealer and Toyota were notified.

NHTSA #: 11675989
mediumPOWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Apr 2025

While driving through the mountains, the ABS, Brake, and Slippery (traction control) warning lights all suddenly illuminated on the dashboard. This happened without any noticeable trigger, and the warning lights remained on for the duration of the drive. I'm concerned about potential issues with the braking or stability systems and request a diagnostic check to ensure everything is functioning properly. Also I am aware that there was recall on Prius 2010 related to ABS system. My VIN was not included in that but seems like similar issue

NHTSA #: 11654656
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2023

Purchased new a 2010 Toyota Prius third generation level 4 in July of 2009. Hybrid battery pack failed just after 150,000 warranty lapsed at 155,000 miles. January 2023 floods in Merced, CA damaged one of blocks in Hybrid battery pack driving through waters at 191000 miles on odometer. This threw DTC POA 080 'Check Hybrid System' message. The following month February 2023 at 191500 miles I notice loud cooling fan for hybrid battery operating for the first time ever! Fan is located in rear seat behind front passenger. Air vent is clearly visible. I believe defective fan led to overheating of hybrid battery premature failure at 155,000 miles.

NHTSA #: 11514893
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2022

Traveling at freeway speed just after midnight, the "check engine" light came on. Less than one minute later, the "check hybrid system" alert came on, with an exclamation mark inside of a yellow triangle symbol displayed. The vehicle instantly had no power when the accelerator was depressed. The vehicle coasted to a stop and would not shift into drive. The vehicle was towed to our home. Upon delivering the vehicle to our home, the tow driver used an emergency battery jump start device and the vehicle was able to shift into drive and be driven into the garage. The 12 volt battery was replaced the next day and the vehicle no longer exhibited any disfunction. This was an unexpected event with no warning that the 12 volt battery was in need of replacement. It could have resulted in a serious collision, if the freeway had been more congested, as the vehicle had been immediately driven 2 lanes over to the nearest exit, and came to a stop just after exiting, safely at the side of the road. This is a very dangerous safety condition that should have had some type of alert that the simple 12 volt battery system was in danger of failing, causing a catastrophic failure of the engine and power train. Or, the car should simply not be able to drive, if the 12 volt battery is that low, to ensure passenger and community safety. Prime example: Toyota Prius has a warning alert that the key fob battery is low. The warning gives you a couple of weeks to replace the battery, and repeatedly displays the warning whenever you power up the vehicle.

NHTSA #: 11458033
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Apr 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HER DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. AS A RESULT, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED.THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AND WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,991. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT

NHTSA #: 11408410
mediumPOWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FireFiled: Oct 2020

CAR SHAKES BADLY WHEN CHANGING FORM ELECTRIC TO GAS MOTOR, STARTED SMOKING IN THE BACK.

NHTSA #: 11362313
mediumPOWER TRAIN,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED OCCASIONALLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA #: 11360298
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2019

WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION IT STALLS IN THE ROAD/HIGHWAY AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DIAGNOSE ERROR P08A0 ERROR CODE: REPLACE HYBRID BATTERY PACK.

NHTSA #: 11242428
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Dec 2018

IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS AND NO REMEDY (SOFTWARE UPDATE) HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR NHSTA RECALL # 18V684 (HYBRID SYSTEM MAY SHUTDOWN AND CAUSE STALL J0V). I AM MOVING AND NEED THIS ISSUE FIXED BEFORE I GO OVERSEAS.

NHTSA #: 11162023
mediumPOWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Dec 2018

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAFETY RISKS OUTLINED IN THE FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: J1V NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 18V684 I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST 2 - 3 YEARS AND UNKNOWINGLY MAY HAVE BEEN SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS THAT MAY NOT HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, MY CAR IS NOT RUNNING AS I EXPERIENCED A STALL (11/09/2018) WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED WITH THE SCREEN READING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND THE DASH LIT UP WITH THE YELLOW TRIANGLE AND EXCLAMATION POINT. I AM NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE DURING THE STALL, BRAKES ARE WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME COUNTLESS TIMES, ALMOST ALWAYS ON THE FREEWAY OR EXITING AND WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD START BACK UP AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF BEING TURNED OFF. THIS PARTICULAR TIME (11/09/2018), I COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE SPOT AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE NEVER TURNED ON AGAIN. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY RESIDENCE AND THEN TO MY MECHANIC. I AM ONLY ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE MOTOR WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL AND THE SCREEN READS "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". THE CAR HAD OVER 1/4 TANK OF GAS AT THE TIME. I CURRENTLY USE MY VEHICLE FOR MY LIVELIHOOD DOING INDEPENDENT DELIVERY SERVICES SUCH AS INSTACART, DOORDASH, POSTMATES ETC. SINCE THERE IS YET TO BE A REMEDY FOR THIS SITUATION I WANT TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE TO GET BACK THE MONEY I'VE SPENT OR COMPENSATION FOR THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT IS NOT USABLE AND UNABLE TO BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN A TIMELY MANNER. I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION IN REGARDS TO REPAIRS MADE AS WELL AS VISITS TO TOYOTA IN WHICH THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11155334
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2018

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE DASH DISPLAYED "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 25 MILES PER HOUR.

NHTSA #: 11103872
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Apr 2018

HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED.. VEHICLE SUDDENLY WAS POWERLESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. STRUGGLED TO COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. BARELY BEING REAR ENDED BY TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. OVER HEATED INVERTER REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEN DEALERSHIP TRIED TO TELL ME THE CAR NEEDED $5200 IN ADDITIONAL WORK. I AM IN DISBELIEVE I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE A CAR WITH OUT THIS WORK BEING DONE TO IT.

NHTSA #: 11090055
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2018

MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC, ENGINE, STEERING, TRANSMISSION ALL QUIT AND I WAS ALMOST IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT AS I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR OR GET OUT OF ANYONE'S WAY. THE CHECK HYBRID WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ON. IT WAS TOWED AND THE GARAGE SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THAT CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE.

NHTSA #: 11076761
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Feb 2018

OUR PRIUS HAS BEEN LOSING POWER. IT HAS 68K MILES AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS WE NOTICED WE HAVE TO PUSH HARD DOWN ON THE GAS JUST TO GET THE CAR TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HILLS ARE EVEN WORSE. WE ARE ALSO STILL WAITING ON THE PARTS TO FIX OUR HEADLIGHTS. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE CHANGED THE LOW BEAM BULBS AT LEAST 6 TIMES! WHEN ARE THE PARTS COMING?

NHTSA #: 11074952
mediumPOWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2017

WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP (BRAKING NORMALLY) AND HIT A BUMP, THE CAR SURGES SLIGHTLY AND THE BRAKES BECOME LESS RESPONSIVE. IT FEELS LIKE I'M FIGHTING THE ENGINE AS IT ACCELERATES AND I'M TRYING TO BRAKE AGAINST IT. RELEASING THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTING AGAIN SEEMS TO BE A SOLUTION, BUT I OFTEN DON'T HAVE TIME BEFORE REACHING THE INTERSECTION I'M APPROACHING. THIS CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS IN TWO PLACES IN MY DAILY COMMUTE WITH A SLIGHT BUCKLE IN THE ROAD APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION ON CITY STREETS AND COUNTY ROADS.

NHTSA #: 10981092
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2017

I'VE HAD TWO TOYOTA PRIUS IN MY LIFETIME, A 2005 AND A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD EAT UP ALL OF MY OIL, I WOULD HAVE AN OIL CHANGE DONE AND LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK THE OIL GAUGE ROD AND FIND THAT THE OIL LEVELS WERE BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE, ALMOST EMPTY! THE ENGINE WOULD BE BURNING OIL AT SUCH AN ALARMING RATE THAT I WOULD REPEATEDLY BRING THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA FOR OIL CHANGES. I'M VERY UNSATISFIED WITH MY TOYOTA PRIUSES. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT 166,384 MILES AND THE ENGINE CYLINDER HAS NOW GIVEN WAY AND ALSO THE HYBRID BATTERY. I'VE GONE ONLY TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE PRISTINE CONSECUTIVE SERVICE AND NO THIRD PARTY REPAIR FACILITIES HAVE PROVIDED SERVICE. I AM LOCATED IN SOUTHER CALIFORNIA IN SAN DIEGO. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS AND IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ONLINE AS OF (04/10/17) "TOYOTA PRIUS ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION" YOU'LL FIND MANY FORUMS WITH "EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION" FROM MANY OTHER USERS. ONCE YOU REACH PAST THE 140,000 MILE MARK, YOUR CAR IS PRETTY MUCH DONE. CONSIDER BUYING A NEW ONE. TOYOTA PRIUSES AND THEIR ENGINEERS HAVE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO SATISFY CURRENT AND FUTURE PRIUS OWNERS AS MANY OF US WILL FIND THAT THERE WILL BE MANY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA #: 10971739
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Mar 2017

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DUPLICATE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *LD *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ONLY OCCURRED WHEN BRAKING WHILE ENCOUNTERING A BUMP SUCH AS A CHUCKHOLE OR, SPEED BUMP. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. UPDATED 03/23/2017 *JS UPDATED 06/15/2017*JS UPDATED 09/11/2017*JS UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS *JS *JS *JS *JS *TR *TR *TR *JS *JS *JS

NHTSA #: 10953648
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2017

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IV HAS 98,731 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE AND POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTIONED DURING A COLD START SO I HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A FLAT-BED TOW TRUCK BECAUSE THE CAR TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED IN THE DRIVE POSITION, WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT START REV ABOVE AN IDLE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING VERY BADLY AND RATTLED VERY BADLY. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ANY OIL CIRCULATION SO I DIDN'T ATTEMPT ANY MORE COLD STARTS. I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE INTO NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER GEAR SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP I WENT THROUGH MY RECORDS AND FOUND A LETTER TITLED 'WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM NOTIFICATION - ZF3' THAT I HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL YEARS PREVIOUS. THE DOCUMENT EXTENDED MY PRIMARY COVERAGE UNTIL 31 MARCH 2017 DUE TO A POTENTIAL FAULTY EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) VALVE. 'A FAULTY EGR VALVE WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO ROUGH IDLE/RATTLE FROM THE TRANSAXLE AT A COLD START DUE TO A STICKING EGR VALVE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE MAY ILLUMINATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SET DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE DTC P0401. IF THE CONDITION IS VERIFIED THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.' THE SYMPTOMS MY CAR EXPERIENCE DURING COLD STARTS BEGIN AROUND 92,000 MILES BUT NO 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' OR 'DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE' EVER ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER 92,000 MILES IT ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY, AND ALWAYS DURING COLD STARTS. NORMALLY AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF IDLING THE RATTLING WOULD GO AWAY AND THE ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN WOULD PERFORM AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A SERVICE AND TOLD THE DEALERSHIP WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE ANY PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10948013
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2016

VEHICLE LOST POWER, STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED; "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" DISPLAYED ON DASH; REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF INVERTER AND INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE

NHTSA #: 10870349
mediumPOWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Dec 2015

CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE, OR REVERSE IT SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL SINCE FIRST WEEK I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUG 2010. I BOUGHT A TOYOTA PRIUS III 2010 (FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOYOTA OF KEARNEY MESA IN SAN DIEGO) IN 2010. THE CAR FROM THE BEGINNING WOULD SHIFT BACK TO NEUTRAL WHEN I SET IT TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I BOUGHT THE CAR AND AM THE ONLY OWNER). AFTER I ENCOUNTER THIS, WITHIN THE WEEK I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT (SAN DIEGO KEARNY MESA) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. YES, IT WAS A PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO MY CAR FROM WEEK 1. NOW 5 YEARS LATER, TODAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN "D" OR REVERSE. I TRIED AT LEAST FOR 10 MINUTES. I CALLED A DEALERSHIP NOW IN SEATTLE (SINCE I TAKE MY CAR HERE FOR SERVICE) AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM/BUG DOES HAPPEN. TODAY I COULD NOT SET MY CAR TO DRIVE OR REVERSE FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. MY STEPS: 1. DEPRESS POWER BUTTON (TO TURN ON) 1.1. WAIT ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS 2. DEPRESS THE BREAK + ENGAGE IN D (DRIVE) OR (R) REVERSE. 3. THE CAR GOES TO "N" NEUTRAL AND CANNOT BE PUT IN GEAR DRIVE OR REVERSE. 4. TURN CAR OFF. GO BACK TO STEP 1 UNTIL YOUR CAR ENGAGES.

NHTSA #: 10811536
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2015

THE VEHICLE RUNS OK AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE YELLOW TRIANGLE TURNS ON, AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO LOSE POWER. AFTER A FEW MORE MINUTES THE RED STEERING WHEEL LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" MESSAGE AND THE REST OF THE LIGHTS AND THE VEHICLES LOSES ALL POWER AND STOPS. IT WILL NORMALLY TURN BACK ON BUT THERE WAS ONE OCCASION WHERE IT DIDN'T AND MY HUSBAND HAD TO PUSH THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON THE RECALL WHICH SHOULD COVER THIS BUT ALL THEY DID WAS UPDATE THE SOFTWARE AND BLAME THE ISSUE ON A CAR ACCIDENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE AS JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BUT IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT THEY COULD HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA #: 10759023
mediumPOWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: May 2015

I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND SLAMMED INTO TO THE BACK OF THE GARAGE, I WOULD TIP OVERATTEMPTED TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE NOT WORKING SO I SHIFTED THE CAR TO REVERSE AND IT SPEED OUT OF THE GARAGE UP AN EMBANKMENT INTO A FENCE. IT. WAS UP ON IT'S SIDE AND I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WOULD TIP OVER SO IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING IT DOWN LEVEL I SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND IT SPEED OFF FORWARD IT THEN JUMPED A ROW OF BUSHES INTO THE FRONT YARD AND DID A LARGE CIRCLE IN THE FRONT YARD MISSING THREE LARGE PINE TREES AND HITTING A SMALL TREE THAT ENDED UP STOPPING THE CAR AND DEPLOYED THE AIR BAG. *TR

NHTSA #: 10714161
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2014

ON 4/24/14 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO LYNCH TOYOTA IN MANCHESTER, CT IN RESPONSE TO A RECALL TO FIX A PROBLEM WHICH INVOLVED LOSING POWER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE INVOICE COVERING THE REPAIR INDICATED "SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR MG ECU AND POWER MANAGEMENT ECU AS PER CAMPAIGN EOE". ON 9/29/14 I WAS DRIVING IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-84 IN WEST HARTFORD, CT WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE. AS I BEGAN TO PASS, THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY FAILED TO WORK AND THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND EVEN THOUGH I CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, ALTHOUGH I HAD NO POWER THE STEERING WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED IT AND IT HAS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY SINCE. I RETURNED TO LYNCH TOYOTA ON 10/6/14 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. THEY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG AND ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 800-331-4331 AND SPOKE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS "[XXX]". HE ALSO ADVISED ME THAT SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I ASKED HIM IF TOYOTA HAD RECEIVED OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT HE SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO CROSS REFERENCE THAT INFORMATION. THE COMPANY'S CASE NUMBER OF MY COMPLAINT IS 1410062141. I AM PERPLEXED BY THE COMPANY'S RESPONSE BECAUSE IT HAS GIVEN ME EXCELLENT SERVICE FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS. IT SEEMS VERY ODD THAT IT WOULD NOT FOLLOW THROUGH FURTHER IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THE ENORMOUS LIABILITY EXPOSURE AN OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM LIKE THIS COULD PRESENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA #: 10643860
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2014

STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. MADE LEFT TURN. DROVE ABOUT 100 FT. CAR ENGINE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON MY PART. CAR ROLLED FORWARD WITHOUT POWER AND THEN STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10641529
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jun 2014

THE INVERTER IN THE CAR FAILED WHILE ACCELERATING. I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS IN POWER MODE. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR LOST POWER, AND I COULD NOT KEEP UP SPEED. THE CAR ENTERED A SAFETY MODE THAT ONLY ALLOWS MINIMAL FORWARD MOVEMENT. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER MOVE. BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED, SEVERAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND POWER STEERING LIGHT. "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" ALSO APPEARED ON THE DASH. A FEW MONTHS EARLIER, THIS CAR HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATE OFFERED BY TOYOTA FOR THE COMPANY'S PRIUS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10605428
mediumPOWER TRAIN,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2014

MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 15 MPH AND UPON PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMPLETING TURN, POWER IS REDUCED TO 'LIMP HOME MODE' AT 10 MPH. CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM MESSAGE APPEARS ON CENTER CONSOLE. 1 MILE LATER THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AND WILL NOT RESTART. EMERGENCY TOWED TO NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. INVERTER ON BACKORDER FROM LOS ANGELES WAREHOUSE AND ESTIMATE IS 3 WEEKS TO REPLACE. RETAIL PRICE OF INVERTER PLUS LABOR AND RENTAL CAR EXPENSES ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IS ABOUT $11,000 USD. TOYOTA HAS BEEN EXEMPLARY IN THIS ORDEAL AND TAKING CARE OF THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS A HEADS UP TO OTHER OWNERS OF INVERTER RELATED TO RECALL: RECALL SUBJECT : INVERTER FAILURE MAY CAUSE HYBRID VEHICLE TO STALL REPORT RECEIPT DATE: FEB 12, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V053000 COMPONENT(S): HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10588237
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2014

AFTER DRIVING FOR A COMBINED TIME OF 4 HOURS IN A 5 HOUR PERIOD, MY WIFE LEFT A STORE SHE VISITED OFF ZEBULON ROAD AND I-475 NEAR MACON GA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RE-ENTER SOUTHBOUND I-475 THE CAR FAILED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE DRIVE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DASH INDICATORS SAID CHECK HYBRID POWER SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER ROGERS TOYOTA IN MACON GA, WHERE IT NOW IS. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THOUGH THE INVERTER IS BEING REPLACED UNDER AN EXISTING RECALL ISSUED LAST WEEK. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE IS COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10572922
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2013

DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN BUSY 4 LANE STREET WHEN CAR JUST WENT OUT OF GEAR FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. CAR CAME TO A STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY SEVERAL VEHICLES. HAD TO PUSH TO SIDE OF ROAD. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE BUT WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE WAITING FOR A RIDE I WENT ONLINE AND SAW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THE OTHERS AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT SAID THAT HEAT CAUSES A MAGNET TO DETACH TAKING THE CAR FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY OR COULD HAVE CAUSED FATALITIES. TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED ANY VEHICLES OR MADE NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I'M ONLY PUTTING COMPLAINT IN NOW SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PREVIOUSLY. FOUND OUT 2 DAYS AFTER INCIDENT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THIS ISSUE WITH MORE THAN 100 VEHICLES AND THAT THEY WERE NOT BEING HONEST WHEN THEY SAID THEY NEVER SAW THIS BEFORE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO GET THE WORD OUT BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10547443
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2013

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN ALBANY, NY AREA, SLOWED DOWN TO GO THROUGH TOLLBOOTH AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO CONTINUE ON HIGHWAY, CHECK HYBRID LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR FROM LEFT LANE OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. TURNED OFF CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE POWER INVERTER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ERROR CODES LISTED BY DEALER: P0A94 DC/DC CONVERTER PERFORMANCE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10534378
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2013

WHILE DRIVING AT CA. 20 MPH A SUDDEN JOLT AND CLUNK OCCURRED AND THE CAR WAS STALLED. VARIOUS DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE DASH DISPLAYED "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM." TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER, THE PROBLEM WAS STATED TO BE A FAILED INVERTER-CONVERTER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10524077
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2013

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE ONTO A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. BECAUSE OF A SLOW AND SHARP U-TURN WHICH PRECEDES THE SHORT ON-RAMP, I DISABLED THE ECO MODE FOR BETTER ACCELERATION. WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE GAS, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY EMITTED A LOUD SOUND, BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ADDITIONAL SPEED. EVEN SO, THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO MERGE ONTO THE ROADWAY WHILE DOING NO MORE THAN 30 MPH. IN THE MEANTIME, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED A "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" MESSAGE ALONG WITH SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS. I MANAGED TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC (FROM BEHIND) AND SAFELY PULLED ONTO THE GRASS. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL WITH THE PREVIOUS MESSAGE REAPPEARING EACH TIME. THE CAR REQUIRED A TOW TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, AND THEY EXPLAINED THE CAUSE TO BE A DEFECTIVE INVERTER BASED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE. FORTUNATELY, THE REPAIR WILL BE COVERED UNDER TOYOTA'S HYBRID WARRANTY. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND I AM HOPEFUL THIS REPAIR WILL FULLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10502449
mediumPOWER TRAIN,WHEELS
Filed: Mar 2013

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT 61000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10502179
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Sep 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE POWER OFF BUTTON TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO PARK WHEN THE POWER OFF BUTTON WAS PUSHED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY, CRASHING INTO A PEDESTRIAN. THE PEDESTRIAN WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED A BROKEN TIBIA AND CRUSHED RIGHT ANKLE BONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA #: 10477202
mediumPOWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Sep 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE CLAIMED AN INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO HAD NOT YET DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS WAS GOING TO TAKE FOUR TO SIX WEEKS AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA #: 10475164
mediumPOWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER BRAKING TO DRIVE OVER ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO SEEMED TO PUSH FORWARD AS IF ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD ABRUPTLY CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,216. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TOYOTA. TOYOTA FOUND NO RECALLS OR FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED TO THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE THE VEHICLE LUNGED, ALL LOOSE ITEMS FLEW BACK IN THE SEATS AND THE CONSUMER WAS THRUSTED AGAINST THE SEAT. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE REPLIED THAT THE CONSUMER WAS MISTAKEN. UPDATED 09/20/2012 *JS

NHTSA #: 10470599
mediumPOWER TRAIN,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2011

ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE EVENT, THE WEATHER WAS AROUND 55 DEGREES AND MISTY WITH OCCASIONAL LIGHT RAIN. OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IV WAS PARKED DURING MOST OF THE DAY. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 35 IN TEXAS GOING 70 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN 4 DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE LARGE RECTANGULAR WARNING MESSAGE SAYING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS, THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT WORK EVEN THOUGH THE GASOLINE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS IMMOBILE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ODOMETER READING WAS ~3,500 MILES. THE DTC CODE WAS DTC P0A3F "DRIVE MOTOR A POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT". THE DEALER INITIALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE INVERTER ASSEMBLY, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEN THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE EITHER OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED, ALTHOUGH I AM SURE TOYOTA DOES HAVE THE PARTS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10389844
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2011

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS VERSION 3. WHEN I PUSH THE DASH BUTTON TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE CAR SOMETIMES WILL ROLL 1-2 INCHES FORWARD BEFORE ENGAGING IN PARK. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON 01/04/2011, BUT STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BECAUSE WHEN ENGAGING THE VEHICLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE RIGHT POSITION FOR GO RIGHT INTO PARK VS. NEEDING TO MOVE A LITTLE BIT SO IT ENGAGES PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10374675
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2010

I WAS BACKING MY 2010 PRIUS OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED QUICKLY WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP, IT JERKED TO A STOP. I LET OFF THE BRAKE AGAIN AND IT TOOK OFF. THIS PROCESS OF LUNGING AND JERKING REPEATED UNTIL I BACKED ALL THE WAY OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE. IT SCARED ME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES. IN FACT, THERE ARE 27 PAGES OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT THE FOLLOWING LINK HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-III-2010-PRIUS-MAIN-FORUM/65875-BRAKING-IN-REVERSE-16.HTML#POST995838. *TR

NHTSA #: 10351621
mediumPOWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Filed: Jun 2010

2010 PRIUS ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING AND SURGES IN ACCELERATION FROM A STOP WHILE ACCELERATING SLOWLY. MANY BUT NOT ALL OCCASIONS WERE WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND/OR WET ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR. TOYOTA CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE TESTING AND DENIES THAT IT IS REAL. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO TOYOTA FOR REPAIRS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE CAR IS NOW PARKED AND WE WILL NOT DRIVE IT AS IT IS NOT SAFE. WE FILED A LEMON LAW CLAIM (CA) AND TOYOTA HAS DENIED THE CLAIM WITH A FORM TYPE LETTER. *TR

NHTSA #: 10334163
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: May 2010

2010 PRIUS II, PURCHASED LATE JULY 2009. IN NOVEMBER OF 2009 THE CAR REFUSED TO STAY IN D WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. AFTER TURNING THE SYSTEM OFF AND SITTING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN THAT AFTERNOON. A FEW DAYS AGO MY WIFE WAS PREPARING TO CROSS A 4-LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR "POPPED" INTO N FROM THE D POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL "REBOOTS" THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL NOT STAY IN D. THEN MY WIFE HELD THE JOYSTICK IN THE D POSITION AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK TO OUR HOUSE (ABOUT 1 MILE). AN HOUR LATER THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10329499
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Apr 2010

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS II ISSUE *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE POWER BUTTON WAS PRESSED FOR ADDITIONAL POWER TO MERGE ON THE INTERSTATE, OR GO UP A STEEP HILL, THERE WAS A BRIEF LAG WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED AND THE POWER WAS ENGAGED. THE LAG DID NOT ALWAYS OCCUR. *JB

NHTSA #: 10327455
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Apr 2010

WAS PARKING 2010 PRIUS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THEN CAR STARTED GOING FORWARD AND HIT BUILDING,DRIVER APPLYING BACK AND CAR WON'T STOP. *TR

NHTSA #: 10324608
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Mar 2010

I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP WITH YOUR TOYOTA GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. I RENTED A PRIUS OUT IN UTAH A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, THE CAR SEEMINGLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BY TRADE AND A HABITUAL GEARHEAD. I ALSO DID NOT BUY THE ACCELERATOR STICKING PROBLEM, SO I BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ON MY OWN. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS TRAVELING UP THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. THE PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY QUITE SIMPLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ATTACHED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND MOVES WITH THE WHEEL. IF THE CRUISE IS ACTIVATED, SOMETIMES IN A TURN IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUMP THE CRUISE LEVER AND "RESUME" OR "ACCELERATE". DON'T BELIEVE ME - SIT IN ONE AND LOOK FOR YOURSELF. NEED MORE PROOF, HAVE A 6'2" PERSON DRIVE THE CAR AND POSITION THE WHEEL BETWEEN HIS/HER LEGS. I BET YOU AGREE! [XXX] *TR

NHTSA #: 10319471
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Filed: Mar 2010

PURCHASED 2010 PRIUS ON AUG LL,09. HAVE RETURNED TO DEALER 5 TIMES, BEGINNING ON SEPT.29, 09, TO REPORT SAME PROBLEM...WHICH IS THAT AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN I SHIFT FROM "P" TO EITHER "D" OR "R", THE VEHICLE LUNGES AND WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE, IT IS LIKE HITTING A BRICK WALL. THIS PROCESS IS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES IN SEQUENCE...LUNGE, BRAKE, LUNGE, BRAKE..THEN IT CORRECTS ITSELF AND DRIVES NORMALLY. I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR, SOMETIMES IT IS WEEKS AND HUNDREDS OF MILES BETWEEN OCCURRENCES; SOMETIMES ONLY A FEW MILES AND HOURS BETWEEN INCIDENTS. THE DEALER ALWAYS SAYS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE NO DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. I HAVE REPORTED TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SER. AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE #. HAVE HAD ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH TCS REP TO REPORT THIS AND SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS, I.E. VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES..."KEY DETECTED IN VEHICLE" WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD... ETC. AM ALWAYS TOLD "SCAN SHOWS NO PROBLEMS". I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONICS. UNSAFE, FRIGHTENING. LATEST INCIDENT ON 3/05/10. DEALER INSTALLED SOFTWARE FIX FOR BRAKE RECALL ON 2/10/10. AT TIMES MUST REPEATEDLY MOVE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BEFORE IT RESPONDS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10319305
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Mar 2010

HAVING NOTICED AN APPARENT BRAKING LAG ON SEVERAL OCCASION WITH OUR 2010 PRIUS ON TUESDAY 02 OF 2010 I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN ABOUT A MILE FROM OUR HOME ON A COUNTRY ROAD. I STARTED STOPPING QUIT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE CORNER STOP SIGN AND OBSERVING THE DASH DISPLAY SHOWING THE POWER USAGE OF THE PRIUS TO TRY AND GET A INDICATION OF HOW MANY SECONDS OF LAG BETWEEN THE REGENERATED BRAKING BEFORE THE ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC BRAKES I COULD EXPECT. WHILE WATCHING THE DISPLAY, WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHILE APPLYING LIGHT BRAKING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE DISPLAY SHOWED REGENERATING BRAKING STOPPED. I WAS DOING LESS THEN 10 MILE PER HOUR APPROXIMATELY I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKING AS BEFORE BUT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DISPLAY NOW SHOWED POWER BEING APPLIED FROM THE BATTERY TO THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR AND TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. I PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN TIME THE DISPLAY SHOWED WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE HARD THAT THE POWER STOPPED BEING DELIVERED TO THE WHEELS THIS TIME AND AFTER STOPPING THE DISPLAY SHOWED THE DRIVE WHEELS STOPPED ROTATION AS USUAL. THIS ROAD WAS NOT BUMP AND RELATIVELY SMOOTH THE FULL LENGTH OF THE ROAD HAVING BEEN RESURFACED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I THINK THERE MAY BE ANOTHER PROBLEM OTHER THEN THE ONE BEING REPORTED AS BRAKE LAG BY THE COMPANY. IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE INTERMENT WHEN IT HITS AND DURATION OF LOSS OF BRAKING. I HOPE THIS MAY SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT THERE PROBLEM IS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10317001
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Mar 2010

SEEMS TO NOT ALWAYS "CATCH" WHEN I PUT IT IN "PARK." HAD ONE INCIDENT IN WHICH CAR ROLLED AS I GOT OUT OF IT AND I BELIEVE I DID INDEED PUSH THE "PARK" BUTTON. HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS IN WHICH I KNOW I PUSHED THE "PARK" BUTTON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL UNTIL I PUSHED THE BUTTON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10316375
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

DURING THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION IN THE MORNING THE CAR RPM INCREASES AND THE SPEED OF THE CAR INCREASES. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT AFTER SEVERAL MORNINGS OF RECREATING THE EVENT MY FOOT WAS NOT NEAR THE PEDAL. BOTH DRIVERS OF THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME EVENT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10314393
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

AT 08:00 WHILE PARKED & IN READY MODE MY PRIUS V-AT SHIFTER WOULD NOT PHYSICALLY MOVE OUT OF PARK. *TR

NHTSA #: 10314414
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

I BROUGHT MY 2010 PRIUS IN ON 2/5/10 FOR THE SERVICE WORK RELATING TO THE RECENT RECALL. TODAY, THE PROBLEM RECURRED; HOWEVER, THIS TIME, MY CAR SLIPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING (BUT NOT BRAKING) AS I WAS TURNING WEST ONTO CONGRESS FROM NORTHBOUND COLUMBUS. THE ROAD SURFACE THERE IS UNEVEN. PREVIOUSLY, THIS SITUATION OCCURRED ONLY WHILE BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THIS TIME, I PUT ON BRAKES PRIOR TO ENTERING THE TURN; I WAS NOT BRAKING AT THE TIME THE CAR SLIPPED. THE CAR DID NOT SURGE, BUT I DID FEEL MOMENTARILY LIKE I HAD LOST CONTROL OF IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10311425
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

I BROUGHT MY 2010 PRIUS IN ON 2/5/10 FOR THE SERVICE WORK RELATING TO THE RECENT RECALL. ON THE WAY HOME, THE PROBLEM RECURRED; HOWEVER, THIS TIME, MY CAR SLIPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING (BUT NOT BRAKING) ON ILLINOIS EAST OF MICHIGAN, WHERE THERE IS A METAL PLATE ON THE ROAD. PREVIOUSLY, THIS SITUATION OCCURRED ONLY WHILE BRAKING ON AN EVEN ROAD SURFACE. THIS TIME, I WAS NOT BRAKING. THE CAR DID NOT SURGE, BUT I DID FEEL MOMENTARILY LIKE I HAD LOST CONTROL OF IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10311423
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

BETWEEN AUGUST AND OCTOBER 2009 I EXPERIENCED THREE INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION BY THE VEHICLE IN LOW SPEED CITY DRIVING, 25 -30 MPH. THESE EVENTS WERE ALWAYS PRECEDED BY BUMP OR IRREGULAR SURFACE ON DRY ASPHALT OR CONCRETE SURFACES. IN EACH EVENT I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO COUNTER THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FURTHER INCIDENTS WITH THE ADVENT OF COLDER WEATHER AND WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 7,707. *TR

NHTSA #: 10310802
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

WE BOUGHT OUR TOYOTA PRIUS, 2010 IN END OF JANUARY. IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A GREAT CAR FOR THE MOST PART. BUT THREE DAYS AGO, FEBRUARY 11 AS WE WERE TURNING INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A BLOCKBUSTER (WHICH IS SOMEWHAT LOWER THAN THE STREET LEVEL) WE HAD A STARK AND UNUSUAL INCIDENT. AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT AND PUSHING THE BREAK PEDAL AS SOON AS THE CAR GOT WITH ITS RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OVER THE RIDGE THE CAR SPED UP AND LEAPED FORWARD AS IF I DID NOT USE THE BREAKS. THE CAR LAUNCHED GOOD THREE OR FOUR YARDS FORWARD BEFORE IT SLOWED DOWN AGAIN. IF WE HAD ANYBODY/ANYTHING WITHIN THAT DISTANCE WE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOT JUMPING ON THE BAND WAGON OF TOYOTA RECENT PROBLEMS AND IN FACT HAVE OWNED BEFORE THIS CARD PRIUS 2006 MODEL AND WAS HAPPY WITH THAT CAR. BUT THIS INCIDENT HAVE REALLY SCARED US RAISING QUESTION WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO INSURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. CAN WE RETURN THE CAR OR CHANGE IT TO ANOTHER MODEL? *TR

NHTSA #: 10310665
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL SOMETIMES JUMP FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS FOR A SPLIT SECOND. CONCERNS ME IF IT IS SAFE. IT HAS DONE IT 5 OR 6 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10310022
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, V MODEL, DELIVERED IN OCTOBER 2009. THE INCIDENT IS AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THEN RESTARTING, AND PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE... UPON BACKING OUT THE CAR WILL SURGE AND I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD TO STOP THE CAR, AT WHICH TIME THE CAR ATTEMPTS TO SPEED UP AND I HAVE TO MAINTAIN HARD PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE CAR ABOUT 4 TIMES STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2009. *TW

NHTSA #: 10307307
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

OCCASIONALLY WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE THE CAR LURCHES BACKWARD, AND THEN SLIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CAUSES THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. RELEASING THE BRAKES CAUSES THE CAR TO AGAIN LURCH BACKWARDS AND THEN SLIGHTLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKES AGAIN CAUSES THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. IT'S A WHIPLASH TYPE MOVEMENT. IT OCCURS SPORADICALLY. MY SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND START OVER (BASICALLY, "REBOOTING" THE CAR). I PURCHASED THE CAR AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2009. *TR

NHTSA #: 10306222
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

I HAVE A NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED 15 JAN. 2010. I HAVE SINCE PUT 3,292 MILES ON THE VEHICLE ON A TRIP FROM WASHINGTON TO CALIFORNIA AND BACK, DURING WHICH CONDITIONS FROM MOUNTAINS, SNOW AND ICE, AND DRY FREEWAY CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE RANDOM PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN USING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SLOW DOWN. THE PROBLEM IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN THE POWER APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE IS INCREASING TO MAINTAIN SELECTED CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED IN THESE SITUATIONS, THE VEHICLE TRIES TO ACCELERATE FOR A SECOND OR SO, GIVING THE DRIVER THE FEELING OF NOT BEING IN CONTROL. THE PROBLEM IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN CLIMBING A STEEP (6% TO 8%) GRADE. IN THOSE CASES (2 TO 3 TIMES) THE POWER SURGE WAS PRONOUNCED AND SEEMED TO LAST FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING BRAKES AFTER THE ACCELERATION ENDED. ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE THE PROBLEM IS LESS SEVERE, THE DRIVER IS LEFT WITH AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION IF COMING UP ON A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE AS YOUR VEHICLE CONTINUES TO GAIN ON THE VEHICLE AHEAD EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF THREE WEEKS, SO THE DATE BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10306611
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

I AM ALSO AN OWNER OF A 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE AUGUST 2010. WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A SUDDEN BURST OF ACCELERATION. IT ABSOLUTELY HAPPENS AND IS REPRODUCIBLE. I GO OVER THE SAME BUMP EVERY DAY ON MY COMMUTE HOME, AND THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY. IT HAS NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS A DEFECT AND IS DISCONCERTING. GIVEN THE OTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEMS TOYOTAS HAVE EXPERIENCED, THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10304411
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SEEMS TO HAVE BRIEF PERIODS OF ACCELERATION WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND AM JUST PUTTING IT ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO KEEP IT FROM LURCHING FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA #: 10304518
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

SUDDEN ACCELERATION LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROAD AT SLOW SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. HAVING READ REPORTS OF THIS IN THE NEWS, I WANTED TO REPORT IT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10304560
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

EVERY TIME MY 2010 PRIUS GOES OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR SEEMS TO ACCELERATE OR "LUNGE FORWARD." IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY 2009. I HAVE NOT ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10304703
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

I WAS DRIVING 2010 PRIUS TYPE III ON DOWNHILL. BECAUSE IT WAS DOWNHILL, I RELEASED GAS AND PREPARED TO PUSH BRAKE. THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED TO RIGHT SIDE AND THE SURFACE WAS A LITTLE BUMPY. WHEN THE CAR PASSED THE BUMPY SURFACE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT PUSH GAS. AS THE RESULT, I PUSHED THE BRAKE AND FORTUNATELY THE CAR STOPPED. HOWEVER, I DEFINITELY FELT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AT HIGH SPEED(I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH IT WAS ACCELERATED). *TR

NHTSA #: 10304734
mediumPOWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Filed: Jan 2010

WHILE BRAKING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH, WHEELS HIT A POTHOLE AND THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH FORWARD FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE BRAKING RESUMED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10302100
mediumPOWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2010

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 8,400 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED BEFORE BY OTHERS. WHEN DRIVING OVER SOME EXTREMELY ROUGH SPOTS, THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES AN ACCELERATOR. MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT ONLY LASTS ABOUT 2 OR 3 SECONDS BUT IS VERY OBVIOUS. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE OWNED A SIENNA, CAMRY, AVALON AND A 2005 PRIUS PRIOR TO PURCHASING MY PRESENT 2010 PRIUS. THIS 2010 PRIUS HAS MORE SQUEAKS, RATTLES AND STRESS NOISES THAN ALL OF MY OTHER TOYOTA PRODUCTS COMBINED. FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, I HAVE DRIVEN ONLY TOYOTA'S ., BUT HAVE BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH THIS CAR. THE ROAD NOISE IS EXCESSIVE AND THE MPG SHOWN ON THE DISPLAY SHOWS 2-3 MPG MORE THAN ACTUAL MPG. IF I COULD TRADE THIS CAR IN FOR NEAR THE AMOUNT I PAID FOR IT. I WOULD DO IT TOMORROW. THOUGH IT IS ONLY MY OPINION, I FEEL THAT THE QUALITY OF TOYOTA PRODUCTS HAS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY DURING RECENT YEARS. THIS IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF RECALLS DURING RECENT YEARS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10300025
mediumPOWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2009

ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING ON CLEAN, DRY ROAD SURFACES, MY 2010 PRIUS SUDDENLY AND BRIEFLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AFTER I DROVE OVER MINOR BUMPS AND, ONE 1 OCCASION, A MANHOLE COVER, WHILE BRAKING. THE SENSATION WAS THAT OF THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SURGING AND ACCELERATING. I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO APPLY HARDER PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOIDED CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I SPOKE WITH A TOYOTA FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST TODAY WHO TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANICS OF THE CAR ARE SUCH THAT IF A WHEEL HITS A BUMP OR MOVES ONTO A SURFACE THAT CAUSES IT TO ROTATE AT A DIFFERENT RATE VERSUS THE OTHER WHEELS, THE CAR THINKS IT IS GOING INTO A SKID, AND THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN. ALSO, THE SYSTEM THAT GENERATES ENERGY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY, WHICH ALSO EFFECTIVELY BRAKES THE CAR, SUDDENLY CEASES TO OPERATE. CONSEQUENTLY, YOU HAVE THE SENSATION OF ACCELERATION WHEN IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA SPECIALIST, THE CAR STOPPED DECELERATING. NONETHELESS, THIS SUDDEN DECELERATION IS UNEXPECTED, AND IF I WAS NOT FOCUSED AT THOSE EXACT MOMENTS AND FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED INTO AN OBJECT, OR CAR, OR PERSON, IN FRONT OF ME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR, AND AM WORRIED THAT MY WIFE OR SON COULD HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM RESPONDING TO THIS SUDDEN LACK OF CONTROL. THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH FROM THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. MY CAR IS ABOUT 1 MONTH OLD, WITH 1,250 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE SPECIALIST THAT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ON LONG ISLAND HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10284961

Other 2010 Toyota Prius Issues