2005 Toyota Prius SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

WHILE SLOWING OUR 2005 PRIUS TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND NORMALLY. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO INDICATE THE ABS/VSC HAD A PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, DRIVING IT TO THE SHOP WAS HAZARDOUS, VERY TOUCHY AND SCARY TO DRIVE. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A COMPUTER ASSEMBLY, SKID CONTROL AND STROKE SENSOR ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. OVER $2000 IN PARTS ALONE. CONSIDERING MY OPTIONS NOW. SELL AND NEVER BUY TOYOTA AGAIN WOULD BE ONE OPTION. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WE NEEDED TO SLOW OR STOP QUICKLY WE MAY HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT! (ISSUE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY) ISSUES LIKE LABELS FOR TIRE LOADS COVERED, RIDICULOUS!

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY FAR RIGHT LANE MOVING ONTO AN INTERCHANGE TO ANOTHER FREEWAY WHEN TRAFFIC SUDDENLY STOPPED AHEAD. I SLOWED IN PREPARATION TO STOP WITH PLENTY ROOM TO DO SO. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS TOO CLOSE AND REAR ENDED MY CAR. AFTER THE IMPACT, MY BRAKES FAILED AND I RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR IN ADDITION TO THE REAR DAMAGE. *TR *JS

BRAKES ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ACTING UP ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AFTER SIX YEARS OF NO PROBLEMS. OBSERVED SYMPTOMS WERE EXTREME JERKINESS OF BRAKE OPERATION DESPITE CONSTANT PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. SYMPTOMS OBSERVED AT ANY SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS (COMING TO A FINAL STOP, SUCH AS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY). WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, JERKINESS FELT LIKE ALTERNATE OVER BRAKING / UNDER BRAKING. SYMPTOMS WERE QUITE SCARY THE FIRST TIMES IT HAPPENED. HAD PERSONAL MECHANIC CHECK OUT BRAKES. TEST DRIVE CONFIRMED PROBLEM, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. SINCE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, WE DECIDED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, GRADUALLY INCREASING IN FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IN THE LAST MONTH WHERE IT WAS HAPPENING MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT ON DAY OF SERVICE. THEY CHECKED COMPUTER FOR STORED ERROR CODES, AND FOUND NONE. REAR BRAKE DRUMS SHOWED SLIGHT WEAR AND WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, SO DRUMS WERE CLEANED AND TURNED AND BRAKES ADJUSTED. NO DIFFERENCE IN OBSERVED BEHAVIOR; BY END OF THE NEXT DAY, JERKY BEHAVIOR NOTED AS BAD AS IT HAD EVER BEEN. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE STROKE SENSOR EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO STORED ERROR CODE. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECURRENCE OF PROBLEM IN A WEEK OR DRIVING SINCE REPAIR. BRAKES FEEL TOTALLY NORMAL AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR. NOTE ON DIAGNOSIS PROCEDURE: THE DEALER SEEMED TO INITIALLY DISCOUNT MY DETAILED, WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM, AND REACTED ONLY TO THEIR OBSERVATIONS. WHILE UNDERSTANDABLE, IT IS FRUSTRATING TO THE OWNER AND COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM NOT GETTING FIXED. I FEEL THAT THE SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED TO THEM POINTED DIRECTLY TO THE STROKE SENSOR AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THAT BASIS. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE ABS, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THEN WHEN DECELERATING HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS STARTING TO KICK IN WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE COMPUTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED ON THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THEY WILL ESCALATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WERE DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN THE BRAKES SUDDENLY STARTED BEHAVING ERRATICALLY, WOULD NOT DEPRESS WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. ALL ABS /VSC LIGHTS CAME ON, DROVE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP (GLENDALE, CA TOYOTA). THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKES HAD SHORT CIRCUITED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ($2500 PART), SUBSEQUENTLY THEY SAID THAT THE SKID CONTROL ECU WAS ALSO GONE AND HAD TO BE FIXED. THIS WAS ANOTHER $1500 PART. ON READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR AND COMMON ISSUE, DOES NOT APPEAR THAT TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING OR EVEN REVIEWING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SINGLE OWNER CAR, ALL MAINTENANCE SERVICE FOLLOWED AND WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE, THEN FAIL, THEN ENGAGE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

AFTER LISTENING TO PUBLICITY ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS PROBLEM I REALIZE THAT I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF BRAKE FADE IN MY 2005 PRIUS. THERE IS A BRIDGE SECTION THAT I DRIVE OVER SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. THIS BRIDGE SECTION IS 1 INCH HIGHER THAN THE ASPHALT ROAD AND ON A STEEP HILL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A STOP SIGN. SO IF I AM BRAKING AS I HIT THE BRIDGE SECTION, I NOTICE AN IMMEDIATE BRAKE FADE. SO FOR ALL THESE YEARS, I ASSUMED IT WAS AN ABS PECULIARITY WITH CAR UNWEIGHTING. I'VE LEARNED TO BRAKE HARD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE I ENTER THE BRIDGE SECTION, RELEASE THE BRAKES AS I HIT THE EDGE OF THE BRIDGE SECTION, BRAKE HARD ON THE BRIDGE SECTION AND RELEASE AS I DROP OFF THE SECTION, THEN BRAKE TO THE STOP SIGN. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER SITUATIONS BUT I AM AWARE OF THE BRAKE FADE AND MIGHT BE ANTICIPATING THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND CHEST. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *CN UPDATED 04/18/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,235.

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE PREPARING TO STOP FROM 40 MPH IN 05 TOYOTA PRIUS LAST SEPTEMBER. HAD AT LEAST THREE OCCURRENCES DURING THE SUMMER OF THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING QUICKLY AND EASILY TO THE FLOOR, MAKING A "THUNK" NOISE, SOUNDING AND FEELING LIKE METAL ON METAL, BUT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, AND CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR MY MECHANIC TO HEAR. TOYOTA DIAGNOSED A COMPUTER FAILURE THAT COST ME $2000 TO REPLACE. *TR

2005 PRIUS: WHEN I BRAKE AS I DRIVE OVER ANY KIND OF VARIATION IN THE ROAD (WHICH IS QUITE OFTEN), MY VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AND I AM UNABLE TO COME TO A STOP RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE QUITE HARD TO MAKE IT STOP AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE TWICE AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO CALLED TOYOTA AND OPENED A CASE WITH THEM WHICH THEY CLOSED WITHOUT INSPECTING MY VEHICLE. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS MAKES A LOUD NOISE CAUSED BY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEMS.*TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $2,300 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE REP STATED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. THE SERVICE REP IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE THE UNIT REPAIRED. *JB

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BRAKING. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY IN WET WEATHER WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. IT ALWAYS BRAKES AFTER SO I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SHOULD KNOW IT IS NOT JUST 2010 CARS, IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

I CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF MY BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASING WHEN GOING OVER A POT HOLE OR TRAIN TRACKS WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS (USUALLY AT LOW SPEED). WHEN I GLANCE TO SEE IF THE ANTI SKID LIGHT IS ON , ON THESE OCCURRENCES IT IS NOT. I HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE ODD FEELING AND THE SITUATION IS ALWAYS ONLY MOMENTARY SO I CAME TO THINK NOTHING OF IT. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT PRIUS BRAKES FAILING COMPLETELY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ALSO OCCURRING ON MY 2005 MODEL. *TR

I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER SINCE I HAVE HAD MY 2005 PRIUS (I BOUGHT IT NEW) THAT AT SLOW SPEEDS ON OCCASION WHEN I JUST VERY LIGHTLY TOUCH THE BRAKE MY PRIUS WILL SUDDENLY STOP AS IF I HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THEY INSIST THAT THEY HAVE TO SEE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NATURALLY THE CAR DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THEY HAVE IT FOR SERVICE. I SELECTED "SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC" BELOW BECAUSE, YOU DON'T HAVE A SELECTION FOR JUST "BRAKES". *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - I HAVE HAD BRAKING PROBLEM. NEAR WHERE I LIVE THERE IS A SMALL POTHOLE NEAR AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGH. WHEN TRYING TO STOP IF I HIT THE POTHOLE THE CAR'S BRAKES JUST SEEM TO DISAPPEAR FOR A SECOND. ALMOST RAN OUT THROUGH STOP SIGN. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES SO I AM NOW VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID THE HOLE BY NEARLY RUNNING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOW I HEAR THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. I'VE ALREADY HAD THE "FLOOR MAT" RECALL. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I WONDER IF IT IS REALLY THE FLOOR MATS OR THE RUN AWAY GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. I'M GOING ON VACATION AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RENTING A CAR BECAUSE I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BRAKE ISSUE. WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLE OR BUMP, I MOMENTARILY LOOSE ALL BRAKE. THE BRAKE COMES BACK ABOUT 1 SEC LATER. THIS HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED, I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT I AM ONLY TOLD THAT I NEED TO 'GET USED TO IT'. *TR

THE BRAKES "SLIP" WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THIS EXPERIENCE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL RECALL. I AM DRIVING A 2005 PRIUS HYBRID AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SLIPS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2005. TO DATE THE SLIPPING HAS NOT RESULTED IN A CRASH, INJURY OR FAILURE HOWEVER I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN THE SKID CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR DURING BRAKING IN LOW GEAR; TRAVELING UNEVEN ROADS OR GRAVEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

I HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS REGARDING A MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR HITTING A POTHOLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTHING FROM "IT IS JUST HOW ABS WORKS" TO "YOU NEED TO HIT THE BRAKE HARDER WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP" (I.E. RATHER THAN A SLOW AND CAREFUL STOP, A QUICK AND SHARP STOP). THERE ARE TOO MANY INCIDENTS TO NAME BUT ONE THAT OCCURS ROUTINELY IS ABOUT 30 YARDS AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN LEADING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT MY PLACE EMPLOYMENT. I NOW HAVE TO COAST VERY CAREFULLY AND PREPARE MYSELF FOR BRAKE FAILURE. SHOULD THERE BE CARS AROUND, THIS BECOMES A DANGEROUS MATTER. AGAIN, THIS HAPPENS ROUTINELY AND NONE OF MY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER A ONE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS THE DRIVER. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURED ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS THE SAME EXPLANATION I GAVE TO THE POLICE AND TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS DRIVING SOMEWHERE AROUND 40MPH WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAK. WHEN I DID THIS I DID NOT STAMP ON IT HARSHLY RATHER IN A NORMAL BREAK APPLICATION. IMMEDIATELY MY CAR SLAMMED ACROSS THE ROAD VERY VERY FAST, AND IT ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. MY SEATBELT HELD ME FIRMLY IN PLACE BUT I WAS TILTED WITH MY HEAD DOWN BY THE PASSANGER SEAT AND MY LEGS UPWARDS TO TOWARD THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I REMAINED IN THAT POSITION FOR ABOUT 20 OR 25 MIN.UNABLE TO MOVE UNTIL THE EMERGENCY SQUAD ARRIVED. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE AMBULANCE. MY CAR WAS DECLARED TO BE TOTALLED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY KEEPS SAYING THAT THE CAR IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST BUT MY ACCIIDENT EXPERIENCE IS CURIOUSLY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA HYBRIDS.. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATING ALL POSSIBLE VEHICLE ISSUES. HOW CAN I PERSUE THIS? DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? *CN

2005 PRIUS WITH ABS/VSC AND CAUTION LIGHT ON. REDUCED BRAKING POWER TRACED TO BAD ANTI-SKID COMPUTER. ORDERED PART AND WAS CAUTIONED TO LIMIT DRIVING. LATER THAT DAY, EXITED FAST-FOOD DRIVE-THRU AND SAILED INTO STREET. NO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER EVEN WITH STANDING ON PEDAL. STOPPED VEHICLE BY PLOWING INTO CURB. VEHICLE THEN TOWED TO SHOP AWAITING PARTS. *TR

ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT, MY PRIUS (2005) HAS A HABIT OF LURCHING FORWARD WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE STOP AT A LIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE. RATHER THAN DECELERATING THE CAR SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENS A COUPLE OF DAYS IN A ROW. *TR

WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR HIT A POTHOLE IN MY 2005 PRIUS AND I AM BRAKING IT FEELS LIKE MY BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR JUST A SECOND AND THE CAR SEEMS TO GO FASTER. I HAVE NEVER FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS SITUATION BUT SINCE I DON'T KNOW A WHILE LOT ABOUT CARS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE NORMAL UNTIL I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER FROM ANOTHER PRIUS OWNER WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THIS ARTICLE SUGGESTED A COMPLAINT BE FILED WITH NHTSA. I AM FILING THIS WITH THE DATE OF THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ALTHOUGH THE STRANGE BRAKING FEELING HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2005. *TR