2008 Toyota Prius SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKES CUT OUT ANY TIME I HIT A ROUGH PLACE ON THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE APPROXIMATELY ONCE PER WEEK. IT DEPENDS ON WHERE I AM DRIVING. FOR EXAMPLE: THERE IS A ROAD CLOSE TO MY WORK WHERE I NEED TO BRAKE FOR A STOP LIGHT RIGHT AT A PLACE WHERE A ROUGH BRIDGE JUNCTION EXIST. WHEN I DRIVE ON THIS ROAD, THE BRAKES CUT OUT EVERY TIME. TOYOTA HAS ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. MY CAR IS A 2008 PRIUS. I KEPT WAITING FOR THEM TO INCLUDE MY CAR, BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT. *TR

EVEN WHEN NEW, ONLY WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY SURFACE, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL REDUCE BRAKING POWER ALL BY ITSELF, WHEN I NEED THEM THE MOST. WHEN I PRESS INTO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WILL BRAKE AGAIN, BUT BY THIS TIME I WILL HAVE LOST 1 SECOND OF BRAKING TIME. RECENTLY ON JAN 20TH, I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I HAD TO PANIC-BRAKE, AND THE ROAD BECAME BUMPY AS I WAS BRAKING. BY PRESSING THE BRAKE HARDER AFTER 1 SECOND LOST, I BARELY STOPPED IN TIME. I NEVER BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS CAR HAS HYPER-ACTIVE WHEEL-SLIP SENSORS, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THAT DESIGN FLAW. THAT PROBLEM COMES UP WHENEVER I TRY TO ACCELERATE HARD AND MAKE A RIGHT TURN. EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT (AND NO WHEEL SLIP) THE ENGINE CUTS OUT FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN IT WAS NEW, THE DEALER SAID THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT. THAT'S JUST WHY I DIDN'T REPORT IT UNTIL NOW. BACK TO THE BRAKES, TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN I HEARD THE 2010 PRIUS HAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX MINE ALSO. BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT UNLESS THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THERE ISN'T FOR THE 2008. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO REPORT IT TO TOYOTA. I DID THAT ON 02/10/2010. THEN WHEN I HEARD THE TOYOTA PRESIDENT (2 DAYS AGO) SAY THAT EARLIER PRIUS' DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT TO YOU ALSO. PS...I AM AN ANALYST BY TRADE, I AM HIGHLY MECHANICALLY INCLINED, AND HAVE EVEN DONE MY OWN BRAKE JOBS. I KNOW HOW BRAKE SYSTEMS WORK AND HAVE HAD MANY CARS WITH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE HAD THAT DOES THIS ON A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. *TR

MY 2008 PRIUS HAS THE SAME LOSS OF TRACTION WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES AS THE 2010 CAS. THERE ARE TWO SECTIONS OF ROAD THAT I DRIVE OVER EVERYDAY TO AND FROM WORK. EVERYDAY, WHEN I GO OVER THESE SURFACES MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON INDICATING THAT IT IS MOMENTARILY NOT WORKING. IT THEN FEELS LIKE I AM SLIDING ON ICE UNTIL I GET TO EVEN ROAD. PLEASE EXPAND THE INVESTIGATION TO THE AT LEAST THE 2008 MODELS. *TR

OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A BRAKE HESITATION. THIS HESITATION OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE WHILE BRAKING OR SLOWING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS OFTEN. I HAVE LEARNED THAT IF I KEEP PRESSING ON THE BRAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AM ABLE TO STOP AND/OR SLOW DOWN. *TR

HELLO, I LIVE IN ISRAEL, SOFTWARE EXPERT, M.SC. IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. ON FEB 5TH 2010 MY PRIUS 2008 CRASHED INTO THE CAR DRIVING AHEAD DUE TO THE BRAKES PROBLEM. CRASH PRE-CONDITIONS: LOW SPEED - 28KM/HOUR (17.4MPH), SLIPPERY ROAD DURING THE RAIN, MORE THAN SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO THE CAR AHEAD. THE CAR AHEAD STARTED BRAKING SHARPLY, INSTANTLY STRONG BRAKING HAS BEEN APPLIED TO PRIUS WITH NO RESPONSE FOR A FEW TENTHS OF SEC, THERE WAS A FEELING OF SLIDING WHICH RESULTED IN CRASH. DURING TWO YEARS DISPROPORTIONALLY LOW BRAKES RESPONSE HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN SIMILAR LOW SPEED CONDITIONS; WHEN COMING TO ROUNDABOUTS AT 15-20KM/HOUR WHILE APPLYING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE ON BRAKES I CAME 2-3M FURTHER THAN EXPECTED WITH THE FEELING OF VERY WEAK BRAKES RESPONSE. ATTEMPTS TO REPRODUCE THIS CONDITION DIDN'T SUCCEED, IT HAPPENS IN VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. THE CRASH RESULTED IN NO INJURIES, BUT SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS (ABOUT $4000). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A THREE SECOND DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER EXERTED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE PRIUS' ELECTRIC BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED INTO THE ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3382 UPDATED 4/14/09 *CN UPDATED 04/17/09.*JB

ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND BRAKE REGULATOR FAILED FIRST IN NOVEMBER 2008-- CAR WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. IN ABOUT AUGUST 2009, CHIRPING FRONT END NOISE RETURNED SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENTLY-- NOISE HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT HAPPENS REPEATEDLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED YESTERDAY (10/17/09) AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT IS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT HAS FAILED AGAIN-- TWICE IN LESS THAN 1-1/2 YEARS OF OWNING THE BRAND NEW CAR. VEHICLE MILEAGE AS OF TODAY IS 22,900. THEY HAVE NOT FULLY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND WILL NOT LOOK TO SEE IF THE REGULATOR HAS ALSO FAILED AGAIN UNTIL THEY REPLACE THE ACTUATOR. MEANWHILE, THEY'VE PUT ME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD IN THIS CAR FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL THEY GET THE PART IN. THESE ARE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF COMPONENTS OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THEY DO NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE TRUE ROOT CAUSE-- WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THESE PARTS TO FAIL. THE DEALER HAS ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES IF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT-- NO, IT HAS NOT. EVIDENTLY BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURES IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2004-2007 PRIUS (TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN-- NOT PROACTIVE, BUT "IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS... HERE'S WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT"). IT SEEMS THAT NO SUCH BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2008 MODEL. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH TWO DIFFERENT PARTS (AND MAYBE OTHERS?) OF THE ABS HAVING FAILED REPEATED TIMES. I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TOYOTA'S CAVALIER ATTITUDE ABOUT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. SINCE SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 THE DEALER HAS HAD POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE FILED CASE #0910101726 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 7,800.

2008 PRIUS HYBRID. BRAKES FAILED AT LOW SPEED ON SEPTEMBER 19, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH AN ON-COMING CAR. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VERY SLOWLY WHEN I OBSERVED A CAR MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO THE STREET I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKE, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. NO ONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY SLOW SPEED IMPACT. I HAVE CONSEQUENTLY READ OF OTHER DRIVERS' EXACT SAME EXPERIENCES. TOYOTA HAS MODIFIED THEIR BRAKING SYSTEM FOR THE 2010 MODEL. FROM WHAT I CAN READ, THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH HAS TROUBLE DECIDING WHICH SYSTEM TO USE, RESULTING IN A DELAY WHICH CAUSES A COLLISION. *TR

EVERY TIME WE STEP ON AND OFF THE BRAKE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE VISITED 2 DEALERSHIPS TO HELP IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TOYOTA PEOPLE HAVE VERIFIED THE NOISE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE LOCAL REP ORIGINALLY SAID I HEAR IT, DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX IT. AFTER I CONTACTED THEIR CORPORATE HQS IN CA HE NOW SAYS IT IS A NORMAL NOISE.WITHOUT EXPLAINING CAUSE. THIS IS A 2008 PRIUS VEHICLE. FRIENDS WHO HAVE 2005,2007 AND 2009 PRIUS' DO NOT HAVE THIS NOISE. IT IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM UNTIL THE CAUSE IS DETERMINED. SINCE IT INVOLVES THE BRAKES. I HAVE A DETAILED LIST OF ALL THE ACTIONS I HAVE TAKEN, WHICH INDIVIDUALS VERIFIED THE NOISE AND THE INDIVIDUALS I HAVE SPOKEN TO CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. IS IT A FAULTY ELECTRIC MOTOR OR CONTROLLER BETWEEN GAS AND ELECTRIC MOTOR? THIS VEHICLE USES THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. DID THE VEHICLE DESIGN PUT A NOISE IN 2008 AND TAKE IT OUT IN 2009? PLEASE HELP ME HAVE TOYOTA EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND FIX IT. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR FRED ZIVITOFSKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED ON THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH WITH A HEAVY TRUCK. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, THE ENGINEERS ADMITTED THERE WAS AN ACTUAL BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,400. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 1/4/10 *CN THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE MACHINED. UPDATED 01/06/10.*JB

NO BRAKES, 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES. FAILED SENSOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES ON HER VEHICLE WERE HIGHLY SENSITIVE. WHEN SHE BARELY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WERE FOUR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ONCE THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DISCOVERED IT WAS SOFT. THE PEDAL THEN EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR REPLACEMENTS, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP WITHOUT THE CONTACT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE THEN TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,800.

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, ANOTHER CAR CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF US. MY HUSBAND PRESSED ON THE BRAKES HARDER TO STOP FASTER, THE CAR DID NOT CONTINUE TO STOP AND INSTEAD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE INTO THE CAR THAT HAD CHANGED INTO OUR LANE CAUSING US TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THEY SAY THE BRAKES ARE FINE. THE CAR STILL WILL NOT SLOW ANY FASTER IF THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED HARDER AND OFTEN THE ABS WILL ENGAGED AS WE COME TO A STOP CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK TO A STOP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. NO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,500.