2004 Toyota Prius SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE FAULTY BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON APPLICATION. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ABS ACTUATOR. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE DEFECT COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE SKID CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVIMG UNDER CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A CONTINUOUS LOUD BEEP OCCURRED, ACCOMPANIED WITH THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD: RED "BRAKE" WARNING AND YELLOW "((!))", "ABS" (ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM), AND "VSC" (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) WARNINGS. ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER AND STOP, THE BRAKES HAD NO POWER ASSISTANCE BUT, FORTUNATELY, COULD BE OPERATED UNDER HEAVY FOOT PRESSURE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, ALL THE WARNINGS AND THE BEEP WERE STILL THERE WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFER LOCATION AT A GAS STATION. BRAKING WAS STILL ENTIRELY UNDER FOOT PRESSURE ONLY. AS THIS WAS IN CANADA, DRIVER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO DECIDE THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WAS AGAIN STARTED IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CAR SLIGHTLY IN THE PARKING LOT (TO GET AWAY FROM A PUDDLE) AND ALL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BRAKE POWER ASSISTANCE, WERE NOW OPERATING NORMALLY WITH ALL THE WARNINGS OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT STATES, "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINT". THUS, NO REPAIR WAS DONE NOR FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE DEALER. *TT

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH MY WIFE AND INFANT DURING THE EVENING LAST SUMMER, AND OUT OF THE BLUE THREE RED INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL AS A BUZZER, AND MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. THE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. PUMPING DID NOTHING. SINCE IT WAS LATE THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND, SO WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED FOR ANY DAMAGE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND NOTHING. OVER THE NEXT HOUR WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK, WE TRIED RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE BRAKES WERE JUST GONE. WE FINALLY GOT TOWED AND GOT A LOANER CAR. THE NEXT MORNING AFTER THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE CAR, THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY DID A COUPLE HOURS OF DIAGNOSTICS ON MY DIME AND RESET THE FAULT CODES. THERE WAS NO AIR IN THE BRAKES, FLUID LEVELS WERE JUST FINE, AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING. APPARENTLY THE BRAKES FIXED THEMSELVES IN THE PARKING LOT OVER NIGHT. THIS HAS MADE ME FEARFUL SINCE THAT DAY THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN AT ANYTIME, PERHAPS DURING RUSH HOUR NEXT TIME. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THEN, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION THEY HAVE TO GIVE ME IS TO HAVE MY BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED REGULARLY. THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A NORMAL THING TO HAPPEN AT ALL, AND I WOULD FEEL GUILTY EVEN SELLING THIS CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE AT THIS POINT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT MORE I CAN DO SO I AM NOW REPORTING TO SAFERCAR.GOV. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OPPOSING VEHICLES DRIVER, AND PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE OF THE BODY DAMAGES. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY TREE AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND CONTINUED TO PUSH THE TREE FURTHER INTO THE STREET. THE CONTACT'S FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE OBSERVED SKID AND BRAKE MARKS IN THE DRIVEWAY, CONFIRMING SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL AT THE TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND SHE HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMPY PATCH OF ROAD, IF I BRAKE, SOMETIMES THE BRAKE APPEARS TO NOT CATCH FOR A BRIEF TIME (1 SECOND OR SO). AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, BUT OVER THE YEARS IT HAS HAPPENED OFTEN ENOUGH THAT I AM CONVINCED THE SENSATION IS REAL. I HAVE RECENTLY READ ABOUT OTHERS DESCRIBING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I CANNOT GIVE AN APPROXIMATE DATE OR MILEAGE; THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE 6 YEARS I'VE OWNED THE CAR. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DATE AND MILEAGE I AM ENTERING IS THE MOST RECENT TIME WHEN I NOTICED IT. *TR

MY 2004 PRIUS FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES LOSE CONTROL WHEN I'M GOING OVER A BUMP. I APPLY THE BRAKE, IT CATCHES, THEN RELEASES MOMENTARILY, THEN GRABS. THE TIME OF THE RELEASE FEELS TOO LONG TO BE SAFE, AND I AM NEVER REALLY SURE THAT IT WILL GRAB EVENTUALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED SINCE I BOUGHT IT, AND TOYOTA ASSURES ME IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. *TR

PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES NOT WORKING WHEN HITTING ROUGH SURFACES SUCH AS POTHOLES. *TR

ON THE 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN DRIVING FROM A STOP ACROSS A ROUGH ROAD OR POT HOLES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES/ANTI-SKID SYSTEM ENGAGES AND MAKES THE CAR SKID ON WET SURFACES. IN WINTER ON ICY ROADS THE (PROPER - NON-PUMPING) APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON MODERATELY ICY OR WET ROAD SURFACES CAUSES THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND THE CAR SKIDS UNCONTROLLABLY. THE LATER OCCURRED TODAY WHILE THE SECOND ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE PRIUS BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE A DEFECT. *TR

MY 2004 PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, THAT IS, WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN AND HIT A BUMP OR HOLE, THERE IS A MOMENTARY ACCELERATION. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2004 AND REGIONAL TOYOTA REP CAME OUT AND LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. SO...THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO 2010 PRIUS. *TR

ODD BRAKING BEHAVIOR IN 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN CAR IS IN ITS FIRST FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THIS ODD BEHAVIOR OCCURS: THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY GRAB AS THOUGH THE PEDAL HAS BEEN PRESSED VERY HARD. THE CAR LURCHES TO A STOP. I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO FORWARD AGAIN, APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GRABBING HAPPENS AGAIN. USUALLY BY THE THIRD BRAKING ACTION THE 'GRABBY' BEHAVIOR STOPS. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THE CAR GETS IT 'OUT OF ITS SYSTEM' BY THE TIME IT IS WARMED UP. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC AND THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE, SUCH AS CONDENSATION ON THE DISC ROTORS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WA NEW IN 2004. I WORKED AROUND IT. BUT NOW WITH THE NEWS ABOUT BRAKING PROBLEMS ON NEW PRIUSES, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 PRIUS WHICH I BOUGHT USED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WHEN I READ THE LINE THAT I CUT AND PASTED RIGHT FROM YOUR NEWS RELEASE, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE IT DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES. "ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP," BUT THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY (USUALLY ON THE SAME POTHOLE ON THE SAME STREET) HAS NEVER CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A SPLIT SECOND. SO UNTIL I READ THIS PASSAGE I THOUGHT I MIGHT JUST BE IMAGINING THIS PROBLEM. IF IT HAPPENED FOR EVEN MORE THAN A SPLIT SECOND I COULD SEE HOW IT WOULD CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY GET IN AN ACCIDENT. BUT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. *TR

RECENTLY, I PERFORMED A ROUTINE FLUSH OF THE BRAKE FLUID ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I STARTED THE PRIUS AFTER COMPLETING THE BRAKE FLUID FLUSH, THERE WERE WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD FOR THE BRAKES, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS DIDN'T SURPRISE ME THAT THE CAR DETECTED AN ABNORMALITY DURING THE BRAKE BLEEDING OPERATION. WHAT DID SURPRISE ME IS THAT THE PRIUS COMPUTER INSTRUCTED THE FRONT BRAKES TO BECOME NON-OPERATIONAL THE TROUBLE CODE IN THE PRIUS COMPUTER AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED THE FRONT BRAKES BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WAS CONFUSED BY THE VARYING PRESSURES PRESENT IN THE BRAKE LINES DURING A ROUTINE BRAKE FLUID FLUSH. I DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP WITH ONLY THE REAR BRAKES OPERATIONAL. AT THE REPAIR SHOP, A TECHNICIAN CLEARED THE TROUBLE CODES FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM STORED IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE OF THE PRIUS. THE BRAKES WERE THEN COMPLETELY OPERATIONAL. I FIND IT UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THE CAR COULD DECIDE ON IT'S OWN TO DISABLE THE BRAKES, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE OTHERWISE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. PLEASE REQUIRE TOYOTA TO PROGRAM THEIR CONTROL MODULES TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION WHEN TROUBLE CODES ARE ACTIVATED.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. I FIND THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A ROAD SURFACE WITH BUMPS, THERE APPEARS TO BE A LAG BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL. THE BRAKES DO NOT HESITATE TO ENGAGE ON LEVEL ROAD SURFACES. I ALWAYS ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING, BUT AFTER THE RECENT RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS FOR A SIMILAR COMPLAINT, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO AT LEAST ADVISE OF THIS SITUATION. *TR

TWICE WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS, I ENCOUNTERED A SMALL SLICK PATCH ON THE ROADWAY SURFACE, FELT MY FRONT TIRES SLIP MOMENTARILY, THEN GRAB, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON LIGHTING UP THE DASH. IT SAID I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE SMALL BATTERY AND REPLACED IT FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE SECOND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND REPLACED THAT. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE, THIS HAPPENED TO ME TODAY 8/5/08. I PURCHASED THIS 2004 PRIUS 2 WEEKS AGO(90,000 MILES), AND I'VE ONLY HAD PROBLEMS UP TILL NOW. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON(AND A BUZZER WAS HEARD). I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BREAK PEDAL HARD IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO BREAK. IT FELT JUST LIKE WHEN A CONVENTIONAL CAR LOOSES ITS BREAKS. THANKS GOD I WAS ONLY 1 MILE FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER. I HAD A SCHEDULED EVAPORATOR REPLACEMENT ($450)SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW SO I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALER (THIS IS WHAT THE MANUAL SAYS TO DO WHEN BOTH WARNINGS GO OFF). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ALL OF THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,980.

TOYOTA PRIUS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM-IF YOU ARE GOING UP A HILL AND YOU LOOSE TRACTION DUE TO SNOW AND THE CAR STOPS. YOU CANNOT EVER GO FORWARD,IF THE TIRES ATTEMPT TO SPIN AT ANY LEVEL OG GAS/ELECTRIC THE RPM GOES TO ZERO. THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE THE CAR IS TO BACK DOWN THE HILL. NEED I SAY MORE. THE DEALER AGREES AND STATED TOYOTA NEVER GAVE US A FIX. WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME ,YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR OTHER CAR. WHICH I DO. HOWEVER MY WIFE USED THE CAR LAST WEEK AND WE HAD SOME MINOR SNOW AND SHE WAS ON A HILL(GOING UP) FOR 2 HRS BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO BACK DOWN WHEN MORNING TRAFFIC SUBSIDED. THIS IS A 2004 PRIUS. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A PERSON THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE IN BACKING DOWN A HILL. *TR

WARNING TRIANGLE, DASH LIGHTS-BRAKE, ABS, CAME ON ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD WHINING SOUND. THE NEXT TIME I NEEDED TO USE THE BRAKES I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE - PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO A STOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUBURN TOYOTA (IN CA) AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SKID CONTROL ECU FAILURE. THEY REPLACED IT AT A TOTAL COST OF $1868.74. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AT 10-15 MPH WITH ICY ROAD CONDITIONS AND THE ANTI-SKID CONTROL ENGAGED AND ALL FOUR WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO BACK THE VEHICLE UP IN ORDER FOR THE WHEELS TO EVENTUALLY GO FORWARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, TESTED A PRIUS AND HAD THE SAME TYPE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

2004 PRIUS HYBRID ABS AND OTHER DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED . PROBLEM WAS FIXED PER MECHANIC, 15 DAYS LATER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *TS

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CITY STREET TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, BRAKES PULSED SLOWLY SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN FAILED. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAR CRASHED INTO REAR-END OF CAR AHEAD. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT STATED THE PEDAL HIT A STOP BEFORE LOCKING THE WHEELS TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID CHECK BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT S IT WAS A NORMAL BRAKING PROCEDURE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE PRESSED THE BRAKES,THERE WAS A MINIMUM BRAKING CAPABILITY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE HE COULD NOT STOP IT. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND DID FEEL THIS WAS A PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.*AK