5.0
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 20,341 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact was driving at speeds of 20 mph and depressing the brakes while traveling over a road bump when the vehicle abnormally surged forward. The dealer advised that the vehicle was functioning normal and the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle did not receive diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was 1,000 and the current mileage was 21,000.
- Strudsburg, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. While traveling at a speed of 25 mph over a rough surface the vehicle began to skid and it became difficult to control, the traction control light also appeared on the dashboard when the failure occurred. The dealer was contacted and sent a representative to diagnose the failure. The contact didn't provide any detailed information regarding the diagnosis that the representative found. The contact also noticed that the failure occurred intermittently. The VIN was not available. The current and failure mileages were 27,000. Updated 05/14/10.
- Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. While approaching any type of stop sign and decelerating, if the vehicle traveled over a series of bumps or any uneven road surface, the vehicle would momentarily accelerate and immediately function normally. The contact stated that it felt similar to having depressed the brake pedal and removing his foot midway. The dealer was contacted and advised the him that the vehicle was operating as it was intended. They also advised filing a complaint with the manufacturer, which he did. The manufacturer did not respond. There were no repairs made to the vehicle to date and there were no recalls. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.
- Boilstown, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact was driving approximately between 20-30 mph on a rough road surface. While braking the anti-lock brake system warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle failed to slow down with a slight loss of vehicle control for a few seconds. The vehicle was able to resume normal operation. The failure occurred whenever encountering an uneven or snow covered road condition. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. There was no resolution. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Smithtown, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that as he came to a complete stop with his feet on the brake pedal and there was a bump in the road the vehicle would lunge forward and accelerate. The dealer was called, stated that was normal and there was no failure. The contact stated the failure occurred repeatedly whenever he stopped the vehicle. The Toyota manufacturer was never called. The failure mileage was 50,000.
- Neenah, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. While driving over any potholes in the road at speeds of over 10 mph, the traction warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The vehicle also made a loud grinding noise while depressing the brake pedal and they would not engage. The contact confirmed that the brakes felt as if they were "locking." The manufacturer and a local dealer were contacted, both of which were not willing to offer any assistance. No repairs were made to the vehicle. On a separate occasion, the headlights intermittently failed to operate. The dealer replaced the bulbs in both headlights. There were no recalls. The failure mileage was under 1,000 and the current mileage was 20,400. Updated 03/04/10. Updated 05/10/10
- Santa Monica, CA, USA
I am describing a repeating issue with my 2007 Toyota Prius. This failure occurs when I drive over bumpy surfaces, a large pothole, or an area with a dip in the road. Often, when faced with these conditions, the car stutters and lurches and the vehicle stability assist light flashes. At times, the car's slip and stutter seems to last several seconds after hitting the rough patch in the road. While it seems to exacerbate the problem if I am turning or braking, I should point out that I sometimes experience this lurching and stalling sometimes when I am simply driving along at 35 mph and hit a pothole. It often seems to occur in a situation where braking or turning is involved, but it seems more related to the vsa process. I am reporting this failure because I have seen news reports of an investigation of the 2010 Prius model. The description of the brake failure reported in the media are basically the same as mine.
- Wakefield, RI, USA
The braking issues that I have experienced for the 2007 Prius within months of buying the vehicle are the same issues that are currently being reported for the 2010 Prius. I have a Prius with traction control. There are two things with the traction control that happen on a regular basis living in St. George, Utah. One is when I come out of a parking lot that has the steep dip for water control the traction control system misfires on dry, clean surfaces and in many cases leaves me dead on the road for a few seconds in which the car will not move at all. This also happens when I drive on roads where there is a drainage lid in the middle of the road, and I am actually not attempting to brake. The second is when I brake. If there is any rough or uneven surfaces, bumps, or dirt roads, I have to anticipate that the braking system will fail and/or I will have to quickly pump the brakes and leave extra braking room. I have not taken the vehicle to Toyota because having had a 1999 Tacoma whose brakes would fail on a regular basis to the point, for which they continually replaced sensors, I sold it after I had it less then one year, I don't expect Toyota to do anything about it. I just drive differently. The speeding out of control, for me, only occurs when I have cruise control on. Many times when I press on the brake the car actually speeds up with a jerk or I will look down at my speed and cruise control will have increased it by 10 or 15 mph.
- Central, UT, USA
I have a 2007 Prius the following has occurred any time driving over rough patches of road or over rr tracks: The car loses traction and power for a sort time until smooth pavement returns. The vsc lamp on the dash shows up when this happens. I shudder to think what would occur on a rough mountain road or in wet weather. This type of event sounds very much like what's being reported by the drivers of the 2010 Prius. In 47 years of driving I've never had a car react in this way. I've compensated by driving cautiously and wait for traction to return but it doesn't feel quite right when it happens.
- San Rafael, CA, USA
My 2007 Prius has the brake problem identified on the 2010 models -- when I go over a pot-hole or bump the brakes "slip." This probably happens once a month and has happened since I purchased the car in the fall of 2007. The brakes grab again as soon as I hit solid road.
- South Burlington, VT, USA
During turns at times my 2007 pruis will bog down and have no power. I have reported the problem to the dealer and they believe it my be a sensor problem where the ABS senses to much spin and cuts power to the transmission. It takes about 5 to 10 seconds to get the power back to the transmission. During this time the car cannot move.
- Derwood, MD, USA
- Rainbow Lake, NY, USA