I have a 2007 toyota prius that is approaching 36,000 miles soon. its brakes stutter when i try to come to a smooth stop. its engine also vibrates excessively as if its misfiring, when idling. the symptoms do not happen all the time, but they happen frequently. i have taken the car to the local dealership several times, but they have not been able to fix the problems permanently. after my most recent visit to the dealer, they claimed they could not replicate the brake stutter symptoms and that the car\'s computer had no record of it misfiring. if you do a google search on the internet about "2007 prius brake stutter problems", it appears to have happened to many other people. please help. i want the problem fixed, or the vehicle replaced. there has been no physical damage nor crashes nor injuries. however, i am concerned that such symptoms detract from the value of the automobile, or at worst may result in an actual crash and injuries later on. the symptoms are a distraction and annoyance while driving. *tr
I own a 2007 prius. i was driving on the interstate when a car in front of me stopped abruptly. when i stepped on the brake, there was a delay before it engaged. to prevent running into the car in front of me, i veered to the left while continuing to step down on the brake with more force. when it engaged, the car was out of control "fish tailing" from side to side. in an emergency situation, there is no room for a delay. this created a very dangerous situation which could have been fatal. i experienced a similar delay while driving in the city, not on a highway. it was the same sensation of the brakes failing. when one is braking in an emergency situation, this is terrifying and not acceptable and not safe... *tr
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
I own a 2007 prius that has a brake issue concerning me. when the brakes are engaged and i go over a rough spot or bump, the brakes "fail" for about 1 second and it feels as though the car is propelled forward. i have been told by the dealer on 2 occasions that "it's just the abs brakes kicking in", however i have never had this happen with any other car i have driven. i have not had an accident (yet) but have become extremely cautious when i can identify a spot in the road that might cause trouble. the lack of brakes for even 1 second might mean that i am unable to stop from hitting a car ahead of me if that car stops quickly and the road if rough. *tr
2007 toyota prius---repeatedly on rough pavement, if my wife or i attempt to brake the car, it is as if the car is running away with us in it. i just had the car serviced at our local toyota agency (landers toyota), and was told that our problem was normal. i tell you it is not normal, and has never occurred in any other car i own or have owned. *tr
This is an incident involving the brake stability system of our prius (2007). it did not result in a crash or injury. my wife had been going to different stores and on leaving a store, suddenly the brake system acted very strange. the vsc icon was on and the red parking brake light remained on. my wife could barely drive the car home. we read the instruction book and learned that she should not have driven the car. but this information is buried in a very large instruction manual. the car was towed to our toyota dealer yesterday (march 18th). working on it today, they still have not found the problem. the service advisor is joe and his phone number is 540 382 2981 ext 6326. we thought our experience might provide a clue to the problems that others are encountering with toyota brakes. *tr
I drive a 2007 prius. while going over rough patches, potholes, etc., my car seems to lurch forward and momentarily lose braking control. the vsa light flashes as well. it is definitely worse in the rain, and if i am turning. *tr
Two months ago, i purchased a used 2007 prius and have been experiencing some odd incidents with the brakes. for instance, when i was exiting the freeway last week, i ran over a small pothole and the car lunged forward even though i was braking the whole time. also, when i drive at speeds higher than 60 mph and press on the brake, it always feels like there is a slight delay before the brakes actually take hold. it feels as if the brake pads on the tires are momentarily disconnected (for less than a second). i asked the toyota dealership if the 2007 model has been affected by all of the recent recalls, but they reassured me that my prius is fine. nonetheless, i wanted to report these incidents to the nhtsa in case others are experiencing similar problems. thank you. *tr
This has happened dozens of times, to myself and my wife. we are braking, and whilst braking drive over a pothole or drain. the traction control comes on, and the car disengages the brakes and the car lurches forward. after clearing the pothole, the traction control then disengages, and the brakes re-engage. several times, i have come close to hitting the car in front. conditions: clear, sunny, dry roads. car: toyota prius, year 2007. *tr
When braking while driving over potholes, speed bumps, manhole covers, or any kind of bump in the road, car lurches forward, and brakes do not work at that moment, in addition, the traction warning light flashes telling driver car has lost traction with road. it occurs every single time the brakes are depressed while driving over a bump, pothole, manhole cover, or any kind of bump in the road. have come extremely close to rear-ending an individual in front of me at an intersection because there was a bump as i approached the intersection, and was braking to slow down. have taken to dealer once and told brakes are fine, unable to duplicate problem. taking back again to have service technician ride with us so we can demonstrate problem. *tr
When i drive my 2007 prius to work, i pass by 101 south to 110 south freeway. at that curve, there is a little bump, when i drive about 30 mph at that bumpy spot, i experienced four times lost my breaking system for a second or two. (whenever i loose braking system brake light come on for a second or two) one tine i had nearly miss the car in front. whenever i drive that spot i am slowing down to 20 mph. 2007 prius definitely has braking problems. i am afraid to drive my prius. i need help. *tr
I own a 2007 toyota prius that exhibits exactly the same symptoms with the braking system that has caused the recall in 2010 models. when going over a bump the brakes appear to fail for about 1 or 2 seconds which gives the illusion that the car is lunging forward. this happens everytime i am applying the brakes while driving across bumps or railroad tracks. i reported this to a toyota dealer twice since purchasing the car and was told this is just how prius's are. *tr
Driving on icy road. slowly approached red light. brakes did not work, no pumping or slowing. this occurred twice. able to avoid accident. took to dealer who said brakes checked out ok. why did they fail? *tr
I was braking to slow down and make a turn. when i applied my brakes over the uneven surface, the brakes were working, then let up for a second. this has happened enough that i have changed my driving habits to account for this slippage in brakes. it's not a sliding issue - i can feel the tension in the brake pedal ease up momentarily each time. i'd say this happens at least once per month since i purchased the car new in 2007. *tw
My 2007 prius touring can/does experience braking issues when slowing/braking downhill and coming in contact with a manhole cover, pothole, or other "even" road surface. thought it was the tires, so replaced the original bridgestones for nokians, but the issue still occurs. the "sensation" is you feel like you've lost control of the car momentarily. as a result, i've changed my commute route home and drive much slower (was already driving slower since prius mileage is dependent on mph). on occasions, the speed (on a straight away) set with cruise control will increase by itself ... by a couple mph .... w/o me doing anything or touching anything. so i'm forced to tap brake ........ occurred this weekend with passengers - they said they felt the surge .....
Transient loss of braking ability when the car encounters potholes, bumpy or uneven pavement. when hitting brakes over these road conditions the car continues to move forward without slowing down; the 'slippery pavement" indicator also lights up onthe dashboard transiently. has been occurring regularly (every week or so) since car purchased in 2007 but didn't think anything of it until recent description i read in the paper about braking problems in the 2010 prius (wall street journal article 2/5/10). . when i read that, it seemed identical to what i had been experiencing for a few years with my 2007 priius. fortunately all incidents have been at low speed on local roads, no accidents.
2007 toyota prius braking issue!!!! the issues you are addressing with the braking system of the 2010 toyota prius aren't isolated to the 2010 prius. please take note that i have a 2007 toyota prius and i have experienced the exact same issue with braking system seemingly every time the "traction control" light illuminates... for example when i hit uneven pavement or potholes and moments when the tires lose traction on wet/icy roads. the sensation when driving during the second or two that it feels it takes for the brakes to regain full function leaves me, the driver, feeling slightly out of control of the vehicle and unsafe on the road. why are they/you not looking at earlier prius models, too, in this recall?? from what i understand, toyota has had complaints similar to mine since 2006 with their prius model. nothing has been done to acknowledge/correct this issue. *tr
On seven separate occasions since 2007 (the year of the prius being reported ) a slight skid occurs, which also results in the skid light coming on, when brake pedal is pressed. has been increasing in frequency -- three times in last week--and usually occurs within the first mile of car use that day. i reported the last incident below. however, this was first noticed sometime in 2007 after july purchase date. *cn
My 2007 toyota prius has braking problems similar to the ones i've read about today in the 2010 model. when conditions are wet or i go over uneven roadway or a pothole, the brakes do not function properly; they seem to take a second or two to engage, resulting in a jerking motion and a failure of the car to stop as quickly as it should. i first noticed the problem last year and took it to my local toyota dealer to have them address the problem, but the said they could detect no problem other than bald tires. i replaced the tires, but the problem has continued. i have not had any accident as a result of the braking problem, but it is an ongoing concern, especially on rainy days. *tr
I believe it is the vehicle's right rear wheel that spins and speeds up going over (stone, bump, deviation in road) and lunges forward. i felt loss of control for a brief second but thought i was going to crash into car ahead of me. car frequently does this since i purchased it in 2007 and was told by dealer that this happens when the car changes from standard braking system to other braking system. the complaint has never been registered until it happened again and in feb 2010 and i had heard of this happening to the prius 2010. i have since had the complaint put in writing. the dealer stated it was because i needed new tires and i tried to explain that this has happened since i bought the car. frequently when i start to drive, whether the road is wet or dry, the car warning light shows that it is skidding. i can feel it skidding but i do not understand why. the dealer stated there is no fix for this problem it is just how the car is. they stated that if toyota gets enough complaints they will look into it. they stated if this is a problem that toyota finds and they figure out how to fix it, i will be able to have the problem resolved. i have not contacted the toyota corporation on this problem. i bought new tires on 2/8/2010 at the recommendation of the dealer. *tr
I have a 2007 toyota prius, and i have experienced the problem of the brakes not engaging immediately when i am on a bumpy surface. this is exactly the same problem i have heard reported on the 2010 prius.' *tr
While driving on a freeway entry ramp our 2007 prius' brakes failed to engage when the brake pedal was pushed. no braking action was felt and our car ran into the rear of another car on the entry ramp. estimated speed was eleven miles per hour according to the police report. this was not a skid situation as the speed was so low. the brakes simply failed to engage. our car is currently being evaluated by our insurance company.
The toyota braking problem is not a new issue. i own a 2007 prius and my brakes have always failed when driving on slick surfaces or over potholes. the "slippery surface" icon flashes on the dashboard and the car does not stop immediately. most recent was wednesday morning in an inch of snow when my car failed to stop and came to a halt inches from a brick wall. i hope the system is inspected on all cars and not just 2010 models. *tr
Hard to stop car because of brakes for the last 6 months? *tr
When braking, the vehicle seems to momentarily accelerate when going over puddles, bumps, grooves or train tracks. this can happen repeatedly on wet or gravel roads... vehicle has slid off a gravel road and sideways going over traintracks when the brake slipping occurs. the anti-slip regulator light goes on when this happens. *tr
When braking, if the car hits any kind of pothole, speed bump, or imperfection in the road that causes the traction control light to illuminate, all braking power is lost and the car glides (as if neither the brake or gas pedal are depressed) until the traction control light goes off, at which point braking power is returned. the traction control is very sensitive and many small bumps or imperfections can set it off, and the lack of braking power has caused me some close calls in the past. *tr
I have an ongoing problem with my 2007 prius with braking and traction control in slippery conditions (rain, snow, ice), and on slippery or uneven surfaces (railroad/trolley tracks, manhole covers, etc.). i have reported it to the toyota dealer several times starting in the summer of 2007 and have been told there is no problem. the car seems to lurch or slide under these conditions which is alarming even at very low speeds. the traction control light flashes, and there is a momentary inability to brake or stop the car. *tr
Toyota prius braking issue. when going over manhole cover or approaching a toll booth going about 20 mph, i cannot brake for a few seconds. in addition, a yellow light flashes on the dashboard. this happens consistently in certain spots. *tr
The braking problem on the toyota prius is not limited to the new model. i have a 2007 prius and it has exactly the same issue - momentary loss of braking power when hitting bumps, potholes, or going over a slippery surface. the brakes do re-engage after a second, but the problem has definitely affected the way i drive and the confidence i have in being able to avoid an accident if there was a sudden need to brake quickly in a short space. *tr
I have a 2007 toyota prius. when something causes the vehicles anti-skid control to act, the car briefly accelerates or lurches forward, which seems dangerous when it's caused by something like a pothole or construction plate at a point where i am slowing down. this has happened on multiple times for as long as i've owned the vehicle, which was purchased new in 2007. *tr
I think that the prius braking problem is not limited to the 2010 model. my 2007 prius often hesitates in braking over bumpy and slippery surfaces including rain wet roads. i slid into an intersection that i feel any other car would have stopped without trouble. *tr
I have a 2007 toyota prius and i have experienced poor braking and slippage when traveling over bumpy and/or wet surfaces, the most noticeable of which is the non-asphalt surfacing around and between railroad tracks. i understand you're aware of this on the 2010 models, but it happens on the earlier models too, and these should be made part of the recall. this has happened to me on multiple dates, the latest is below. luckily, i leave more room between me and the car in front than the average person. *tr
The 'brake cut-out driving over a pothole or manhole cover' is >not< restricted to the 2010 prius. my 2007 has done that since day one [65k miles ago]. there are hills near my house where i have to go out of my way to avoid manhole covers -- particularly the last one near a stop sign. the car just goes into free-wheel mode for a second or so.
2007 toyota prius. when i am braking and drive over a disruptive surface: pothole, train tracks, i have experienced a brief loss of control with the brakes. best description is if during a controlled deceleration, you expect a consistent decrease of speed. however, the rate of deceleration was interrupted by the pot hole, then it would return to braking. this is a consistent event if i am braking while riding over a disturbed surface. *cn
I purchased a 2007 used toyota prius in june 2009. on two or three occasions in the past 7 months, the brakes have failed to respond momentarily. this happened at low speeds, when braking around a corner or when the road was wet. the lack of brake response was accompanied by a delay in acceleration. the problem only lasted for a moment and was accompanied by a warning sign on my dashboard. in all prior instances, control of the vehicle resumed after a few seconds. *tr
Brakes momentarily disrupted when going over potholes and yellow light flashes. this has been a regular occurrence with our pre 2010 (2007) prius since purchase. never considered it a serious hazard, but i am reporting it now in connection with your ongoing investigation of the 2010 models. *tr
I was driving under normal conditions and suddenly my 2007 prius "brake" light, "vsc", "abs", circle-exclamation point lights all lit up on the dash. toyota manual states that the user should drive immediately to a dealer. i took the vehicle to the dealer, and after a day's examination, they explained that they cannot locate any issues, the lights are no longer on, and it is safe to drive. a couple of days later, again under normal driving conditions, all of the light illuminate again. i immediately take it to a different toyota dealer, and they indicate that the brake actuator assembly has failed. they explained that it is not safe to drive, and the replacement part alone is $1900 +labor. *tr
This was a first time occurrence for my 2007 prius. i was stopped midway on my mountain, long & steep, dirt driveway trying to park along the rock side. it was too tight to park so decided to continue down to the bottom. i was in reverse and shifted, with my foot on the brake, into drive. the car suddenly bolted forward propelling me through the fence and down a steep embankment to our deck where 12 people were having a dinner meeting. my brakes didn't work, nor did the steering. the bolting force was heard by all on the deck. there is no way i would have pressed the gas by mistake for two reasons: your foot must be on the brake to shift; and as is typical on our steep gravel roads, one never presses the gas pedal while proceeding down. the car propelled 10 or 12 feet forward crossing the drive at a diagonal, crashed through the fence boarding the drop off, and proceeded down the embankment stopping only when it hit the big tree by our deck. to my right were all the guests and my husband, just feet away from the oncoming, out of control car. had i missed that particular tree, i would have rolled down an even steeper ravine because of rocks to bounce off and very sharp drop off.*tr
2 incidents: 1) 05.15.09 i was approaching a car going 20 mph; i pressed my brake to the floor but my toyota prius 2007 didn't stop. i tried to avoid the car in front of me. i ran into the explore. 2) 07.27.09 i was exiting my driveway. i tried to slow down, but my brakes failed. i was able to use the emergency break to prevent me entering traffic. *tr
On may 21, 2009, i had a rearend collision, where my 2007 toyota prius did not stop, as the traffic stopped at a red light. i was less than 10 miles/hr. my car has extended warranties as well as change of oil every 5k miles paid in advance. no one at the toyota service dealership did not find any problems with my brakes. now i hear on the news about 2010 prius brake problems. i do believe the brake problem is also in my 2007 prius model. *tr
Prius 2007, failed to stop at very low speed. with a guest inside my car, i drove over a railroad track. there was a street light up front, and a couple of cars ahead of mine. as i pressed my brakes, the car did not stop. my car rear ended the front car, and my insurance was charged for it. indeed, i had no idea the prius could have a brake problem. to make it less expensive for my future insurance, i did not had my front bumper replaced, and the driver side outside mirror plastic cover, thinking that perhaps the insurance would not go up. now i have a doubled car insurance payment. the accident occurred on may 21, 2009. i took my car on the 26 may 2009 for a 40 miles maintenance paid in advance when i bought the car. the brakes were also checked and no problems found by the toyota dealer. i took my car again feb 20, 2010, again, no problems found. today i am reluctant, on my mind, if the prius will stop or not when brakes a pressed. car was purchase on february 2007. *tr
Toyota prius loss of electical power, loss of steering resulting in crash in may 2009 while driving in a residental neighborhood at low speeds, prius lost all power resulting in loss of steering and loss of brakes resulting in crash into a high curb. i had prius towed to toyota dealership and filed complaint with dealership as well as with main california complaint center. they said that it would take them 4 months to investigate complaint. they recommended my storing car at dealership for four months if i wanted an investigation. they would not investigate otherwise. they told me there was no cause for concern and that the power loss must of resulted after the crash. they said that toyota had no safety complaints about power loss or steering or brake loss. i went on line and found same year model recall in australia. they told me the products were dissimilar and not a cause for concern. i disagreed. my routine mechanic at merchants tire and auto could find nothing wrong. i repaired the structural damage and sold the car since toyota assured me there was nothing wrong. toyota corporation's methodology of investigation appears to be designed to stifle any meaningful determination of baseline safety fault. the requirement to store a car for months at owners expense and for driver to have no access for transportation would appear to discourage any meaningful investigation of safety concern. given the current finding of brake and other safety defects in toyota products, i am concerned that the power loss may have been under-reported because of their unethical business practices. i report it to help you determine if there is a pattern of power loss, loss of steering and loss of braking in the prius. *cn
For the last 10 months starting after ownership of the car for approx 15 months, after braking and while at a stop with foot on brake pedal, my 2007 toyota prius makes a loud sound like a large metal coil being tightened. toyota has attempted repair three times over the last 10 months to no avail. toyota has repeatedly stated that have no knowledge of the cause but are attempting to determine a "fix". after the third repair attempt, the dealer declared my car a "lemon" and suggested i contact their third part arbitration center who has now turned down my case because although the defect was reported while the car was under warranty, the car no longer is under warranty. my state's lemon laws do not support cars no longer under warranty either. i have a car that could not be sold to anyone due to the loud and frightening noise. in addition, the situation worsened considerably after the last attempt at repair. *tr
I have a 2007 prius. when it is really cold outside (below 15 degrees) the brakes are less effective. i noticed this last year during a cold week. i was driving 15 miles an hour and gently applied the brakes for a stop sign. there was a significant delay in the brakes working and i had to slam down on the pedal to stop. this happened about 10 times last winter and has happened once so far this winter. most of my driving is in town and i try to go slow, particularly in the cold, so i have always been able to stop in time. i called the toyota dealership about this last year and was told that it happens to all cars in cold weather and there was nothing they could do. with the recent discussion of the brake system for toyota i thought it was best to report this in case that wasn't true. *tr
Vehicle was sb in lane 2 of 2 when it is reported that the driver lost control struck a guard rail on the right then traveled across two lanes crossing onto a shoulder where it eventually struck a tree. eye witnesses saw no brake lights at any point. autopsy concluded that the driver died from trauma caused by impact with the tree. the vehicle was a 07 prius. *tr
I currently own a 2010 prius and have had the brake recall work done. previously when i was living in belgium, i leased a 2007 prius. i complained to the toyota dealer about the lurching forward of the car when i braked if there was even mildly rough or damp pavement. they told me that it wasn't a problem. my husband and i were in an accident in belgium due to this problem. a stop light turned red and when we tried to stop, the car kept going and we ran into a motorcyclist. thankfully he wasn't injured but we had about $1,000 worth of damage to the front end of our car that we had to pay for. the dealer continued to claim that there was nothing wrong with the brakes. *tr
Toyota prius 2007 also has the brake problem as the 2010 model. we were scared many times when braking and instead slowing down the car momentarily lurched forward. we have never reported it. *tr
Similar to the reported braking incidents with the 2010 prius, my 2007 prius loses braking resistance when driving over a rough surface such as pot holes. when i brake over pot holes, the yellow warning light on the dashboard lights up (symbol is a car over wavy tire tracks), and the brake pedal has no effect whatsoever, even when fully depressed. braking works once i am over the rough surface, but this has happened many, many times. although lack of braking has not led to an accident in my car, it is a very frightening situation to be in. *tr
Car failed to stop on hill in snowy day -- antilock brakes froze. brakes also were weak in snow in general. i took the car into the dealer and asked for snow tires. they said it wouldn't make a difference, and that priuses were just bad in the snow. i traded the car in for a camry hybrid in the spring to avoid going through another winter with it. *tr
2007 toyota prius. in the 3 years since we've owned the car, we have noted about 10 to 15 times that the car lurches forward when we have applied the brakes while going over a bump. it is always in conjunction with the traction control being activated. it has never been at high speed, but we have felt that we are not able to break for a second or two. after learning of problems with other prius models, we are concerned that this is a safety issue with our vehicle. we are contacting our dealer to see if there is a fix available. we have not had an accident as a result of this issue. *tr