Problems with 2006 Toyota Prius SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Momentary loss of braking while driving over a bumpy surface, over small potholes, rough patches etc., the car lunges forward at the same time my traction control light will flash on and off until the road smooths out.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the driver was operating the vehicle approximately 35 mph. as she applied the brakes, the vehicle would not stop until crashing into another vehicle. a police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where the failure was not diagnosed. the vehicle was in the process of having the body damages repaired. the failure and current mileage was 90,000. updated 07/26/11*lj

2006 toyota prius. consumer states brake actuator issues *tgw the consumer stated noises started to occur while the vehicle was in motion, when parked and after the engine was turned off.

Ever since i got my 2006 prius, the brakes have briefly stopped working when i try to stop quickly or on a hill when it is wet or icy outside. on february 24, it was very icy, and the car completely locked up when i was going down a hill. i was going very slowly when i started going downhill, but nothing happened when i tried to steer or push down the brakes and i got in an accident. i contacted toyota, but they only tested it when it was dry outside, and i have never had any trouble when it was dry. they told me nothing was wrong. since then, i have had increased trouble stopping at stoplights when it is wet. the whole car seems to lock up and i slide toward the light for a few seconds before the brakes re-engage. i am trading the car in, as i am afraid for the safety of my children in this car.

While driving on normal, dry straight roads, the skid control activates and the brakes engage. this began happening 1 week ago after the tires were rotated at the dealer. car is 4 years old. dealer states that ecu must be replaced. *tr

!, abs, and vsc lights come on and brakes stop working - while driving. must coast to side of road, turn off vehicle, and restart. then brakes work for a while until problem recurs. replaced brake stroke sensor. fixed problem for 17 months - 20,000 miles. again, brakes fail while driving. getting code dtc 1247 - fault in stroke sensor. told part is out of warranty and must be replaced again. vehicle shouldn't have a part that fails every 20,000 miles resulting in complete loss of braking while driving. *tr

I have a toyota prius 06-when applying the brakes, especially over rough roads, they seem to momentarily fail before slowing the vehicle. *tr

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) i have a 2006 toyota prius that has the same braking problem reported for the 2010 model year. the local toyota garage said they don't know anything about a problem with the 2006 model. they told me to call toyota but i haven't been able to get through. the vin number for the car is [xxx] *tr

Frequently when the anti-lock brakes engage there seems to be uneven application that causes a slippage and the indicator light comes on. the vehicle seems to shudder and shimmy a bit making the braking seem like it is failing and increasing the braking distance. the vehicle has done this from day one and the dealer has assured me that it is normal. i have never had this happen with any other car i have had with anti-lock brakes. *tr

1996 toyota prius - (3) things i have noticed when operating car. (1) when braking and going over rough pavement, car will behave as though it is hydroplaneing - the brakes not slowing the car for a brief period until car settles down. this can happen when going as slow as 5 mph. the faster one is going when hitting the rough pavement, the farther the car will travel before braking sensation re-appears. i believe this occurs everytime i travel rough pavement (la city streets, not back country or 4 wheeling). note that warning light on dashboard does light suggesting loss of control. i called dealer service center and described problem, they assured me that no safety warnings or recalls had been made. 2) when turning off cruise control, car will accelerate slightly for approximately 1-2 seconds. this is most noticeable when trying to exit carpool lane in heavy traffic and spacing is limited. again called dealership and assured no safety notices or recalls. i now cover brake when turning off speed control. 3) car just eats up hid headlight (9 in 80k miles + 2 original installed) and taillight bulbs (11 + 2 originally installed). again no safety notices or recalls. i replace them as i notice them. i have never had both headlights go out at once as described on your website. note that other than the above issues/concerns, this car has been a great car with no service except for gas, oil changes, and replace the bulbs when they go out. *tr

Almost immediately after purchasing the vehicle, i went over a pothole and the car lurched forward briefly. unsure if an acceleration issue or a braking issue. it has happened numerous times, but has been minor. i have reported this to toyota, but they ignored most of my emails to my surprise and disappointment. today, i turned the corner and hit a small pothole. i felt it lurch, but the brakes did not work. i pumped them and no brakes. i pushed the on/off button and held it for the 3 seconds they recommend and it did not turn off the car. it took over 5 seconds before finally turning off and i coasted to a stop. it was terrifying!!! once i calmed down and tried to start the car, it would not turn on and then once it did, it would not go into drive ... only neutral. this happened 4 or 5 times before i was finally able to get it into drive to get home. i immediately called toyota on amherst dr. in springfield, va and spoke. he said it was not under warranty and that i would have to pay for a rental car. i let him know how displeased i was and he was kind and said he'll talk to his boss in the morning. i have told toyota that i am afraid of my car ........ upgrade that to terrified! this was a very scary event. the 2010 car owners should not be more important than those of use with an earlier model of this car. it's not the floor mats. it's not the sticky accelerator pedal. it's their computer system and i need to have toyota respect my safety too and support this dangerous car that i'm stuck with. i would appreciate your help. *tr

When driving over a bumpy road or a pothole while braking there is a sudden loss of braking feel before it returns, seems to be a slightly less than a second delay where the brakes just cut out. this sounds to be related to the issue toyota and nhtsa are investigating with the 2010 prius, but mine is a 2006 and seems to experience the same symptoms. *tr

1) steering wheel/shaft appears to be improperly supported; feels loose when turning lock to lock since new. have brought to the attention of four (4) toyota dealers when service performed (have taken to toyota for all service work since new), all have advised that there is "nothing wrong" with the vehicle. it is the only vehicle we have ever owned that has this sense of disconnect and potential for a much more serious issue were there ever a steering failure. 2) over rough roads (when vehicle was driven in seattle and bellevue, wa) when stopping, the abs system seems to activate prematurely and increase stopping distances. we have other vehicles with abs brakes which do not activate so readily and stop so slowly. as it relates to incident date(s): since new, vehicle purchased november 2005. *tr

Brakes seem to fade or release upon stopping at a stop sign. it feels like the brake just gives up for a second. this has happened numerous times. i originally thought the road was slick but it has happened 20 times. i used the yesterdays date since. *tr

I was traveling about 25 mph on a side street during broad daylight. i applied my brakes to stop but the car continued to roll forward. the brake pedal did not depress to the floor - rather it just remained in the normal depressed condition and did not stop the car at all. i then pumped the brake and it finally engaged on the third try although i was already thru the stop sign and into the intersection. luckily, there were no cars ahead of me nor was there any cross traffic at the intersection. there was no snow or ice on the ground. my car is a 2006 toyota prius with 24,400 miles traveled at the time of the incident. it was purchased in july of 2006. a follow up check of the brakes on tuesday at a local toyota dealer on the 16th resulted in the following" "checked for diagnostic codes - everything fine." hardly calming. the pad wear indicator was not displayed. *tr

I drive a 2006 toyota prius. i have experienced odd skid-like behavior while applying the brakes on bumpy roads or loose gravel. most notably this happens at low and decelerating velocities (maybe 15 mph?) when the vehicle encounters broken pavement or loose gravel. it is often associated with the prius' 'slippery surface' icon on the dash being lit. when this occurs it feels like the brakes do not function for a brief period. i have not had an accident as a result, but the experience has occurred at least 4 times over the four months i've owned it. also, the front hid headlamps flicker on and off periodically making it dangerous to drive at night. i will report these problems to toyota and based on the high volume of identical complaints i believe they should cover the cost of fixing these problems. *tr

This is about the 2006 prius. if i am braking and hit a bump, the car momentarily losing braking power and does not slow down until the brakes kick in again. i have described this problem to two other generation ii prius owners and they have said they experience the same thing, one an elderly gentleman yesterday. i will put today's date because i can make it happen every day coming down a hill with some old roadwork on it. i reported this to the dealer first in 2007. nothing was done. *tr

My 2006 toyota prius exhibits the same loss of braking on rough surfaces that has been reported for the 2010 prius. i have noticed this on many occasions, when braking a low, city-driving speeds. when i hit a bump, there is a loss of braking. it feels like the car "slips" forward for a moment. i have not experienced this at higher speeds, nor has it resulted in a dangerous driving situation, so i have not thought to report it previously. however, with the announcement of the 2010 prius recall, i am concerned that there has been absolutely no mention of the braking problem in prior year models. i am sure that there many other owners of the 2006 prius who have experienced the same lack of braking. *tr

When applying the brakes gently, on a modest downgrade, braking effects stops for a second or two then kicks in hard. the anti-skid braking light flickers on the instrument panel. this happens to me consistently at the same location near our home: northbound, right-lane, on 10th ave e, approaching e. roanoke st in seattle. i have come to expect it now, and take measures to be extra cautious etc. it should not happen. it is a safety defect. it is more likely to happen if i hit a bumpy patch of pavement at the time. *cn

I have a 2006 toyota prius that when applying the brakes if i hit a bump, the car feels like it "speeds up" and looses control. this is a consistent problem i've had since we purchased our prius in 2006. i've also filed a complaint with toyota itself. *tr

When i drive over pot holes or uneven surfaces and apply my brakes, they disengage for a second or two before re-engaging, causing my vehicle to surge forward momentarily. this has happened since i bought the car new, and occurs at all speeds. i asked the toyota service department to fix it, but they said they couldn't recreate the problem, so had no way of fixing it (even though i explained in detail what was happening). again, this problem happens on a daily basis, and was reported to toyota.

If i hit a bump while braking in my 2006 prius, the brakes give-out and i have re-brake. it only happens at slow speeds,and only when i hit a bump or pot-hole. when i mentioned it to the dealership 2 years ago, they said they were aware of the issue, and i should just re-apply the brakes. it still happens today. *tr

I own a second generationprius (2006), and it has the same brake symptoms that are being described by the owners of the 3rd generation model. when i apply the brakes while going over a rough surface, the brakes do not engage for a second or two. this has been the case since i purchased the car new, and i thought it was just a quirky characteristic of the hybrid, so i have learned to compensate by giving myself an unusually large distance between me and the car ahead of me. this doesn't always work, as people cut in front of me when the gap is large. i have not been in an accident, but there have been several near-misses with me almost rear-ending the person in front of me due to this brake problem. i hope the nhtsa is looking at all models of the prius for this defect. in my form below, i checked air and hydraulic brakes because there is not an option for anti-lock brakes on the drop down box. *cn

If i hit a pot hole or bump while slowing down the brakes feel like the car is sliding. *tr

I would like to make the agency aware of my experience with the traction control system on my 2006 toyota prius. i understand that it is being investigated for the 2010 model but i have very similar issues with my 2006. this is an ongoing issue and occurs regularly from time to time (and has since i purchased the vehicle new). when passing over road surfaces that cause the traction control system on the vehicle to activate (wet road, gravel, pot hole, snow, etc.), braking and acceleration control is temporarily lost. this loss of control persists for 1-5 seconds when braking, and indefinitely when trying to accelerate (i.e. when on snow). braking distance is clearly increased, as the vehicle does not apply the brakes at all. i have had several incidents where i had maintained a safe following distance, but nearly ran into cars stopping in front of me (due to my vehicle not braking appropriately). merging is also an issue at times, as is accelerating (into traffic or out of a hazardous situation on snowy/wet roads). i feel that the best solution would be the ability to deactivate the traction control system. unfortunately toyota is not currently offering a way to do this. *tr

2006 toyota prius. braking behavior identical to what has been described in the 2010 prius models. when traveling over a rough patch of pavement or potholes at low or moderate speed, the vehicle braking seems to release. the best way to characterize this is that as the vehicle bounces over the rough pavement during breaking and the weight is applied and released from the wheels due to the up/down motion, the brakes release and re-apply inconsistent with the steady pressure i apply on the brake pedal. this is beyond the behavior expected by the abs. no accident or damage has yet occurred, but the behavior is disturbing. not meaning to pile on with the ongoing troubles with toyota, but the description of the braking in my 2006 vehicle is identical to what is described in the 2010 prius model. *jb

Brakes on my 2006 prius do not work immediately when applying the brakes when the anti-skid feature is activated. i noticed this shortly after purchasing the car in september 2006. when i read in the newspaper today that the 2010 prius was exhibiting this same behavior i decided to make sure nhtsa knew this was also a problem with my 2006 prius since it was brand new. it has happened repeatedly and consistently whenever the anti-skid feature is activated and i apply the brakes. i just thought it was something i had to get used to but now i know it may be a defect. the incident date i provided below is just the most recent incident of the situation. *jb

This is a complaint about the brakes and/or traction control system on my 2006 toyota prius. this is an ongoing issue and has been ongoing as long as i have owned the vehicle. i am the first owner. the fault is as follows: when passing over road surfaces that cause the traction control system on the vehicle to activate (gravel, pot hole, snow, standing water, etc.), braking and acceleration control is temporarily lost. this loss of control persists for 1-3 seconds. of particular concern are instances in which a yielding situation accompanying a merging or turning maneuver present themselves. in these situations, if the car passes over a road surface which causes an activation of the traction control system, i am unable to stop the car or to accelerate out of danger. i fear that i will find myself in the situation where i am trying to slow down to yield to a vehicle while making a right turn on a red light and will be able to do so due to the loss of braking/acceleration control accompanying the activation of the traction control system. in such a situation, i would be unable to avoid a high-speed collision on the driver's side of the vehicle. i have lived with this danger for the last 4+ years, but in the light of recent developments, i feel it is appropriate to raise this issue through this complaint system. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated while driving up and down a hill at 3 to 5 mph in the snow the vehicle begins to fish-tail and the vsc (vehicle speed control) light would flash and the brakes would lock-up. the contact stated this almost caused 5 crashes while the contact was driving home. the contact had to have the vehicle towed home because the contact felt the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the contact has not taken the vehicle to a dealer at this time but saw the news story televised and felt this was a safety issue. the failure mileage was 130,000.

Braking effectiveness is reduced or non existent when hitting a bump, pothole or uneven road surface at slower speeds as reported by 2010 prius owners. this has been occurring since i took delivery of the new vehicle in june 2006 and have been told by various dealers that "this is how abs works in the prius, just keep applying steady pressure to the brakes, they will eventually catch again and you'll stop". until hearing news reports today of other owners with similar issues i though this was normal (though somewhat unnerving behavior) for a hybrid with regenerative braking systems. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. i have experienced dramatic changes in braking deceleration with the brake pedal at constant pressure, but when driving over bumpy roads or potholes (such as those on my home street). the sudden decrease of deceleration is accompanied by an indicator on the dashboard telling me i'm going over bumpy terrain, the braking change lasts on the order of a second. this phenomenon has occurred repeatedly during my ownership of the car, always under similar circumstances. it occurs both at low speeds (e.g. on my street) and high speeds (e.g. on a potholed freeway). your reporting system asks for a specific date, mileage, and speed at which the failure occurs. i have entered arbitrary values. i emphasize that (1) this phenomenon has occurred repeatedly since just after my purchase of the new car and continued to the present (the car has 50k miles at present), and (2) has occurred at various speeds. *jb

Issue relating to prius brakes. i have a 2006 prius and have experienced the brake issue ever since i've owned the car. i don't think it is entirely brakes, because i've also experienced it while accelerating and one of the wheels loses traction. i think it is the traction control system / abs. anyway, i've learned to cope with it, the dropout is only for less than a second, and there's never been an accident (or even near accident) because of it. this latest event was slowing down for a turn and one of the wheels went over a manhole cover. that wheel locked up and the abs light came on, and the brakes cut out and then back in. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. i have experienced the same problem as described in the 2010 toyota prius brake recall on multiple occasions. "the anti-lock braking causes the car to have an "inconsistent brake feel" during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slippery surfaces. the abs is operating as it's supposed to." i have not been in a situation where it has caused or almost caused an accident, but it would only take one time. please look into addressing this issue. *tr

On 1/30/2010 at or about 9:00am. my daughter's 2005 toyota prius brakes failed enroute to mammouth. no snow or rain was on roadway. we have been unable to reach he since, but our sending this complaint to document this incident in the event an accident occurs. *tr

Toyota 2006 prius brake problem...i have always had the problem that jessica yellin outlined on cnn. as an engineer myself let me describe what the issue is. the short answer is that the anti-lock brake system conflicts with the traction control system on bumps and slippery surfaces. if you are braking and hit a pot hole or series of bumps (causing a wheel to spin slower than the rest) the anti-lock brake system kicks in and disables the brakes in an unacceptable manner. a yellow "traction" light on the dashboard flashes during this even, which lasts about a second unless further slipping occurs. i understand the goal of anti-lock brakes, the implementation on this car is just plain poor and unsafe. i have tapped other's bumpers in situations that i should have been able to stop in. at first i complained to the dealer, but after driving other's prius cars i found out they all do the same thing. (at least 2005 and 2007 models.) i have driven this car since september 30, 2006...and have over 40,000 miles. i am sure that this issue could be addressed by upgrading the firmware in the vehicle. or, disable anti-lock brake system so they work when i step on them! i have had no accelerator problems. *jb

I drive a toyota prius 2006. it has not been the subject of any official recalls other than the map recall. however, i am writing that this car suffers from the same brake defect which has been recently reported on in the newer prius models. that is, whenever i drive over a pothole or a slippery surface, the brakes disengage as a result of the stabilization system. it occurs frequently, but i have become relatively use to it, such that it doesn't bother me anymore, though i know it is a serious problem. so far i have not done anything to repair the problem, primarily because there has been no official problem with it declared. i hope this changes. *tr

I have experienced the same braking issue described in the media on my 2006 toyota prius. the brake system appears to fail momentarily when slowing and braking on uneven surfaces. this occurs routinely (weekly) when turning a specific corner in my neighborhood, where the road is uneven. the incident date listed below is the most recent date. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle lost complete power, shut off and she had no control over the vehicle; however, she was able to restart it within five minutes. she took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the vehicle needed a new battery which she purchased and installed. two weeks later, the failure occurred again. she took the vehicle to a second dealer who performed a diagnostics test which a code produced cited that a brake problem occurred. she called the manufacturer and a representative stated that they would notify her. on 3 occasions, when the vehicle was parked, the lights would flash on and off then the horn would honk for about a minute. the vehicle had not been repaired to-date. the current mileage was approximately 57,000. the failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

I read the article today regarding prius brakes and i definitely have that issue all the time in my 2006 toyota prius. whenever i hit a pothole or a slippery service and apply the brake, it feels like the brake stops working and the cars moves forward more quickly. then, it feels like the car re-engages the brakes. i have not yet had an accident relating to this, but it is most definitely something i have experienced many times. i have not approached toyota or my dealer about it (in part because i am not nearby to my dealer). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at approximate speeds of 50 mph, the passengers side front tire traveled over a small patch of ice. the vehicle began to skid from side to side and the rear of the vehicle spun toward the front so that the contact was then facing oncoming traffic. the vehicle proceeded sliding and crashed into a guard rail. the contact sustained injuries and a police report was filed accordingly. the vehicle was taken to an authorized collision repair shop, where repairs were made to the structural damages caused by the crash. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 41,000.

I understand there is a study and possible recall about the braking system on the 2010 toyota prius. i am an owner of a 2006 toyota prius. i think every model year of the toyota prius line should be investigated. i too have a problem when the vehicle goes over a bump or railroad tracks when braking. the brakes disengage for several seconds and you continue to maintain speed. an indicator light comes on, on the dashboard like you are sliding. it is very disconcerting. this event occurs almost every time you go over a bump when braking. i am the only owner of the vehicle which was purchased in march of 2006. i would highly, highly, highly recommend that the nhtsa investigate all toyota prius brakes in every year manufactured. with total sincerity - thank you. (ps - this form requires me to put in an incident date - there are multiple with no specific date, so i am putting today's date). *tr

When i go over a rough patch on the pavement while braking in my 2006 prius, the skid light comes on briefly on the dash and the car lurches forward even though my foot is on the brake. it feels like the computer is perceiving the possibility of a skid and is compensating by accelerating until the pavement is smooth. fortunately no one has been in front of me when this happens and i haven't hit anyone. but it has happened repeatedly and it takes a time before the car responds to my own handling and brakes again. this is more than just what you might expect and want from electronic stability control. *tr

My 2006 prius also feels like the brakes aren't working correctly when i go over a pothole, similar to what has been described in the 2010 prius in today's news report. i suspect the problem is not confined to just the 2010 prius, but all years. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius which was purchased brand new. while driving at various speeds more than 5 mph over rumble strips in the road, if the brakes were depressed, they would not respond immediately. the failure would also occur during rainy weather conditions. an unknown warning symbol briefly illuminated on the instrument control panel, the contact assumed that this was a normal occurrence for her braking system. neither the dealer nor manufacturer were contacted to report the failures. there were no repairs made to the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were approximately 35,700.

Nhtsa id: 193333 i understand that the japanese government is investigating a braking issue on 2010 priuses -- involving slipping or surging forward when the brakes are applied. this is not unique to the 2010 model; our 2006 prius slips in the same way, under the same circumstances: when the driver brakes at slow speeds on a wet surface like a light rail track, or goes over bumps or into potholes while braking. it feels as if there are no brakes, and the car lurches forward. this has happened only on flat streets -- never on hills. the problem occurs about twice a month. in conversations about this problem, the toyota dealer tells me any vehicle will do this, but the anomaly is one i have never experienced in any other car i've owned, including 2 toyotas. in other words, nothing has been done to address this situation, because the dealers say there is no defect. "approximate incident date" question below makes no sense, because this is a recurring problem. also, "mileage" information is useless, since this has happened dozens of times. *tr

2006 toyota prius. if it encounters bumpy road while turning and braking, then stability indicator will light up and brakes will stop working for about a second. it feels like the car is being driven on ice. it can be reproduced at will. just bumpy road surface and turning/braking at the same time. did not take it to a dealer to have it looked at it though. learned to live with it. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius- i have had several incidences where i put my foot on the brake at low speed and the brakes took a very long second to engage- it has occurred when i have been turning the wheel and also when moving in a forward direction i have put one date below - however it has happened many times since i have owned the car. *jb

2006 prius brake pedal slowly moves to floor when foot held on brake pedal, i.e., at a stop sign. toyota service tech said this is normal and that brake would hold even when pedal is fully depressed. i this true? *tr

I'm filing this as it may relate to your current investigation of the toyota prius braking system. i have a 2006 toyota prius with electronic stability control (esc). i've noticed that, at times when the esc is activated by a bumpy/slippery road, that attempting to activate the brakes (via the pedal) at that moment (shortly after the esc has activated, per the dashboard light) will sometimes "fail". the "failure" being that the brake pedal will depress to the floor (often with a 'clunk' noise - maybe the brake pedal hitting the floor?) without activating the brakes. i've found, every time, that releasing and re-depressing the pedal activates the brakes without fail. this has happened on numerous occasions so the "approximate incident date" i've entered is a best guess of the most recent occurrence. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius. when i am braking on a bumpy road, or over a pothole, the brake will cut out for a brief period, leading to a sensation of sliding. this has happened repeatedly. the incident date is just an approximation of the last time it happened. it has happened since the car was new. *tr