2005 Toyota Prius VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT LUNGED FORWARD WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AGAIN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING AND BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34000.

2005 PRIUS WITH ABOUT 50K MILES. DRIVING IN NV. TEMP ABOUT 33F. ACCELERATED FROM ABOUT 60 MPH TO 70 MPH TO PASS. THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN. ACCELERATED UP TO ABOUT 85 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECS, THE ENGINE THROTTLED BACK TO NORMAL. I CHECKED IMMEDIATELY FOR A BUNCHED UP FLOOR MAT OR CARPET OR ANYTHING UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS NOTHING AT ALL. THIS HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. *JB

I REALIZE YOU'VE JUST OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO 2010 PRIUS' SURGING FORWARD ON THEIR OWN, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW IT HAPPENS WITH EARLIER MODELS. I'VE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS BECAUSE I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. AND I HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH SURGES THAT'S BEEN REPORTED AS 'ONLY' A 2010 MODEL PROBLEM. IT'S NOT. WHENEVER I GO OVER A POTHOLE, OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD, OR EVEN SOMETIMES, A WET SURFACE (IF IT'S RAINING) MY CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT ME HAVING USED THE GAS. I KEPT WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE MENTIONED IN THE REPORTS BUT TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD IT. IT COULD EASILY BE REPLICATED IN MY CAR, IF TESTED. IT DOES IT EVERYTIME. I'VE NEVER HIT ANYONE, THOUGH I'VE BEEN CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING OTHER CARS BEFORE. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE GAS OR EVEN THE BRAKE. THEN ONCE I SLAM ON THE BRAKE IT WILL STOP. HOWEVER, THE CAR DOES THIS SURGE ALL ON IT'S OWN. I'M GROWING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND AM GROWING SCARED ABOUT DRIVING MY PRIUS. I USED TO LOVE IT-- NOW I WANT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A FORD! PLEASE HELP. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO-- DURING SOME RAIN. *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. OCCASIONALLY, AND ALMOST ALWAYS IN RAIN, THE CAR JERKS WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP OR ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. THREE TIMES, THE CAR HAS SURGED FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON 5-25-05. I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S THE WAY THE BRAKES OPERATE. ANOTHER PUZZLING OCCURRENCE WHICH I REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON 4-25-06, WAS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS, NOTHING HAPPENS, AND THEN IT SURGES FORWARD. *TR

WHILE ON A 3 HOUR TRIP ACROSS RT 40 FROM NASHVILLE TO KNOXVILLE, MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT LASTED A FEW SECONDS AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I TAPPED THE BRAKES TO MAKE IT STOP. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED, I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 84 MPH (PROBABLY ABOUT 3 SECONDS) SO I HELD DOWN THE POWER BUTTON AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I DO NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL (BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE MY CAR DRIVING ITSELF!!!). THERE WERE SOME SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS BUT THE ROAD WAS MOSTLY DRY. THE CAR GOES TO THE DEALER TOMORROW TO REPLACE AN $818 HEASDLIGHT SO THEY ARE GOING TO CHECK OUT THE SUDDEN ACCLERATION PROBLEM WHILE IT'S THERE.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO MAXIMUM SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER STATES HE WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. *KB THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HE ACCELERATED FROM 25 MPH TO ABOUT 45-50 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THE BRAKING ACTION DID, IN THIS CASE CAUSE THE ACCELERATION TO STOP AT THAT POINT. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AND THE INCIDENT HAD NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. THE FLOOR MATS HAD BEEN REMOVED WEEKS BEFORE.

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS TWICE ACCELERATED BEYOND MY CONTROL. BOTH OCCASIONS OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ACCELERATING TO PASS SOMEONE. I HAD THE PEDAL BASICALLY TO THE FLOOR, AND WHEN I STOPPED ACCELERATING, THE PEDAL "STUCK," AND THE ENGINE REVVED. WHEN ACCELERATION CONTINUED AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS ACCELERATING RAPIDLY TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. AGAIN, ACCELERATION CONTINUED AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I TRIED THE BRAKE, WHICH DID NOT WORK, SO I PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND LIFTED IT UP, AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. I AM VERY AWARE TOYOTA IS HAVING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AND THAT FLOOR MATS ARE SOMETIMES BLAMED; HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS, THERE WERE NOT FLOORMATS IN THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH BACKING OUT OF HER DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND IT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. ONE PASSENGER INJURED HER WRIST AND BUMP HER HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT RECEIVED NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

LTR FWD FM (CA) RE SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM OWNER OF A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. *KB THE CONSUMERS WIFE PULLED INTO A PARKING GARAGE . AS SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE INSTEAD ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE VEHICLE FLEW FROM THE 3RD STORY SPACE DOWN TO THE SECOND FLOOR. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE STARTED UP ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF A KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

LTR TO ADMINISTRATOR RE 3/9/2010 ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IN HARRISON, NY, REQUESTING THAT NHTSA IMMEDIATELY ASSUME CONTROL OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND WORK WITH LOCAL AUTHORITY'S. *TGW THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY DOWN A WINDING DRIVEWAY, CROSSED A TWO-LANE ROAD AND SHOULDER, THEN CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A KNEE INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO HIS DRIVEWAY TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE CEMENT WALL. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATLEY ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM PROCEEDING ANY FURTHER. THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER HEAD AND FACE AREA. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HE WAS AWAITING A REPLY, TO DATE. TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, HE NOTICED HIS VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V388000: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE UPON A VISUAL INSPECTION. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE OWNER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN UPDATED 06/17/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEGAN TO STICK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED BY POSITIONING HIS FOOT UNDERNEATH THE PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

1) CAR ENGINE STARTS AND REVS UP TO FULL SPEED JUST AFTER TURNING IT ON WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN PARK DURING THESE INCIDENTS, BUT IT STILL LUNGES FORWARD AND IS CAUGHT BY THE PARKED TRANSMISSION. 2) THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TO 4 TIMES DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR WHICH HAS BEEN ABOUT THREE YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN ONCE DENTING A TRASH CAN AND SCARING THE DRIVER. 3) I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT ONCE, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, AND THAT IT WAS VERY UNLIKELY THAT THE CAR WOULD JUST DO IT ALL ON ITS OWN, AND THAT MAYBE I WAS PRESSING ON THE THROTTLE. EVIDENTLY, THEY DIDN'T BELIEVED ME. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS IF YOU PRESS ON THE THROTTLE, IT DOES NOTHING SINCE IT IS A HYBRID; SO THIS WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON A DAILY BASIS, SHE NOTICED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL BACK AND SUDDENLY LUNGE FORWARD WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER UNCONTROLLABLE BUT SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,500.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN AS I HAVE NEARED AN INTERSECTION AT THE SAME TIME AS HITTING A DEPRESSION OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, MY CAR, WHILE MY FOOT IF ON THE BRAKE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP HAS JUMPED FORWARD. THERE IS ONE PLACE ON MY WAY TO WORK WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. SINCE MY FOOT IS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE I PRESS HARDER AND THE ACCELERATION STOPS. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHEN THERE WAS A CAR OR PEDESTRIAN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I AM CONCERNED THOUGH THAT IT COULD CAUSE HARM IN THE FUTURE OR THAT IT COULD GET WORSE OR TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. I SEE NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GAS PEDAL. I NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO MOMENTARY, I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO STOP IT. AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT IT COULD GET WORSE OR TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.. BASED, HOWEVER, ON WHAT I'VE READ, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE TOYOTA WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN IF I DID BRING IT THERE FOR REPAIR. PUTTING SOMETHING UNDER THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

05 TOYOTA PRIUS ( MY CAR) WAS RUNNING AT 25 MILES/HOUR IN LOCAL TRAFFIC. I FOUND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS SLOWED DOWN, SO I STEPPED DOWN MY PRIUS' BRAKE FIRMLY. MY PRIUS'S RESPONSE THE EVENT OF BRAKE BEING STEPPED DOWN WAS NOT AGILE ENOUGH , SO PRIUS HIT THE FRONT CAR'S BACK BUMPER. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS SLUGGISH OF PRIUS BRAKE TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER MY CAR'S SAFETY IS COMPROMISED OR NOT. *TR

ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, I HAVE OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCED, WHEN BRAKING, IF THERE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR THE ROAD IS A LITTLE SLICK, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS FEBRUARY 1, 2010. *TR

WHILE BRAKING, MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS SOMETIMES SURGES FORWARD INSTEAD OF SLOWING. THIS USUALLY OCCURS ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. IT HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN 10 AND 20 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR TO CORRECT PROBLEM. A MECHANIC FRIEND THINKS THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE CURRENT RECALL SITUATION WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, AND SUGGESTED I REPORT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO SHE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE THE FLOOR MATS OUT OF HER VEHICLE AND WHAT TO DO IF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT HER OWN EXPENSE. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT RECALL HER VEHICLE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFUSE TO MAKE THE FREE RECALL REPAIR. HER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAIL HER A COMPLAINT FORM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31000. UPDATED 04/05/10 *BF UPDATED 05/17/10 *JB

I OWN A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE 3 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENTS IN 5 YEARS, TWO SEPARATE DRIVERS. CITY DRIVING AT 35 MPH. PEDAL DID NOT STICK, IT WAS SUCKED TO THE FLOOR WE TURNED OF ENGINE BEFORE SPEED GOT TO 50MPH. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY, NOTE THIS: EACH TIME I ASKED THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP ABOUT IT, THEY DISMISSED IT AS FLOOR MATS AND "COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT ". INTERESTINGLY, THE REPAIR REQUEST DID NOT SHOW UP ON DEALERS ACTION LIST (2 DIFFERENT DEALERS) EVEN THOUGH EVERY TIME I ASKED ABOUT A SQUEAK OR RATTLE DID SHOW UP ON THE RECORDS.. DID TOYOTA GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO DEALERS ON HOW TO DOWNPLAY IT AND NOT RECORD THE COMPLAINT? *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT IN MY CAR, A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS IS WHEN MY CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS OR THE BRAKE. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT MY CAR DROVE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AFTER THE SECOND IMPACT AND CAME TO REST ON THE FRONT CAR'S BUMPER. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR I HIT WAS $1000, THE DAMAGE TO MY PRIUS WAS $7000. TOYOTA HAD CONTACTED ME IN A FORM OF A RECALL ABOUT FLOOR MATS BEING THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA OF ORANGE TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER AND ASSURED ME MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF ANY RECALL. THEY SAID I COULD BRING MY VEHICLE IN HOWEVER NOTHING WOULD BE DONE IF THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE INITIAL CRASH MY PRIUS HAS MIMICKED THIS SAME SITUATION A HANDFUL OF TIMES. NONE OF THE TIMES AFTER RESULTED IN A SECOND CRASH. I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY PRIUS TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED INTO. I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND TOYOTA DOES NOT OFFER LOANER CARS. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED HIM TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. *KB

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS FEELS LIKE IT "JUMPS" OR ACCELERATES WHEN I AM BRAKING ON BUMPY ROADS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN, AND ONLY FOR A SECOND. IT HAS HAPPENED RARELY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CARE, BUT IT HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE IN THE PAST 4 YEARS. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS AT ONE INTERSECTION, AND SO I AM ESPECIALLY CAREFUL THERE. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS IMAGINING IT, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED IN ANOTHER PLACE. *TR