2008 Toyota Prius VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DEC 1 2008 PRIUS - UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CAR IN FROM OF ME ... APPROXIMATELY A CAR LENGTH OR SO AWAY. THE MOTOR RACED HIGH AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN UNTIL I HELD ON THE POWER BUTTON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF THEM IT TOOK TOYOTA OVER A MONTH TO INSPECT THE CAR (THEIR LEGAL FOLKS SET IT UP) AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULD BE PRESENT WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT THEY DIDN'T LET US KNOW. OVER 5 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE RECEIVED A FORM LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WITH TOYOTA'S DELAY, WE ENDED UP WAITING OVER 8 WEEKS TO GET THE CAR BACK, AT A COST OF $15,000 .... FOR A COLLISION WHERE THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING 1-4 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IS KNOW UNSAFE AND WE CANNOT DRIVE IT. OFFERS FROM 2 TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ARE UP TO $3K UNDER KELLY BLUE BOOK TRADE IN VALUE FOR A REPLACE CAR (NON PRIUS). DRIVER OF PRIUS HAS A RECORD OF DRIVING OVER 30 YEARS WITH NO ACCIDENTS. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON 11/18/09. 1) I WAS PARKED AND READY TO LEAVE THE PARKING SPOT WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR HAD AN ACCELERATION BACKWARDS. I COULDNT STOP THE CAR BUT LUCKILY I WAS IN A TIGHT PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR HIT THE OBJECT BEHIND (LIKE A TREE) UNDER THE 45 DEGREE ANGLE WHICH LEFT THE DEEP REAR CORNER BUMPER DENT. (STILL THERE). I CALLED IN AND COMPLAINED TO BROOKLYN TOYOTA AND DROVE IN FOR SERVICE THE SAME DAY ( INCLUDING TO DO THE TIRE INSPECTION). TOYOTA DEALER DIDNT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S ACCELERATION OR TIRES BUT AS A RESULT OF THE DEALER INCOMPETENCE THAT WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A NAIL IN THE TIRE -I HAD A FLAT TIRE JUST 20 MIN AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE INCIDENT # 2181 ON 11/18/09. I ALSO CALLED ADVANTAGE TOYOTA IN LYNBROOK , LI TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY FIX THE ACCELERATION AND THE BUMPER. THEY ALSO SAID THEY DIDNT HAVE ANY RECALL NOTICES TO FIX AND COULDNT FIX THE BUMPER UNLESS TAKEN TO A PAID COLLISION SHOP. 2) I ALSO HAD THE CAR IN THE ADVANTAGE TOYOTA SERVICE ON 11/4/09 FOR OIL, FILTER, CHECK UP AND THE BRAKES AND TIRES. I TOLD THEM I EXPERIENCE LOOSING TRACTION / BRAKES AFTER HITTING THE BUMPS OR THE POTHOLE OR MAN HOLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000. UPDATED 10/01/10*LJ WHILE SLOWLY MOVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD LANDING ON A PARKING LOT DIVIDER. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED WHIPLASH. UPDATED 10/10/05

I WAS SITTING WITH THE CAR ON AND IN PARK AT SONIC DRIVE IN WHEN IT LUNGED FORWARD 3-4 FEET BEFORE I COULD HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER WORK. AFTER CHECKING ON THE COMPUTER AND TEST RIDING IT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG OR DUPLICATE THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS IN ACTIVATION AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN DURING BRAKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE UPON ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 UPDATED 10/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10*JB

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE FLOOR MAT *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO COMPLY WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL. WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE DRIVERS FLOOR MAT WAS STILL MISSING FROM WHERE HE HAD PLACED IT IN THE TRUNK AND THAT THE AREA HAD NOT BEEN VACUUMED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROCEDURES HAD NOT BEEN FOLLOWED AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T BELIEVE THE FLOOR MAT INSPECTION HAD BEEN DONE, AND ONLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS MODIFIED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE BRAKING FROM A SPEED OF 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION ALTHOUGH HE WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED FOR APPROXIMATELY 400 YARDS, DRIVING OVER SEVERAL BUMPS, GRASS AND OTHER ROAD OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW DURING THE FAILURE. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED EVOQ 08/17/10 UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF UPDATED 04/01/11

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM HITTING A HUGE DIRT MOUND, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING. HE WENT OVER THE MOUND ONTO SOME RAILROAD RACKS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT DISMISSED IT. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *JB

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND RECEIPT OF A RECALL NOTICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE GOING VERY SLOW, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL RAN OVER A PARKING CEMENT BLOCK AND THEN HIT A BUSH. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, HOWEVER A WEEK LATER THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *JB

MY MOTHER HAS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE APPROACH TO THE DRIVEWAY IS UPHILL AND THE DRIVEWAY IS MORE OF A PARKING AREA WITH AN ACCESS APRON. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE CAR'S ENGINE REVVED (VERY HIGH RPMS - I COULD HEAR IT FROM THE BASEMENT). THE CAR GRAZED THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WENT THROUGH A SHORT WALL (BRICK - ABOUT 1 FOOT TALL, 1 FOOT THICK AND 5 FEET LONG) AND AN IRON DECK GATE. THE CAR ENDED UP ON THE DECK AFTER BREAKING OFF TWO 6X6 SUPPORT POSTS. THE DECK HAS HORIZONTAL STAINLESS STEEL CABLES INSTEAD OF PICKETS, AND I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE WHAT KEPT THE CAR FROM GOING OVER THE EDGE - A 25 FOOT DROP. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT IT DIDN'T STOP. I PUMPED THE BRAKE, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. IT STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. THE INCIDENT DIDN'T LAST LONG, AND HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE OTHER, MORE SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THE ACCELERATOR I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT - I'D NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING HAPPENING. I WOULD HAVE FELT FOOLISH TALKING TO THE GUYS AT THE SERVICE CENTER, SO I DECIDED TO WAIT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEED, MY PRIUS 08 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED MAKING THE CAR LUNG FORWARD AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP/POTHOLE...VSC LIGHT WENT ON ND THEN TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY TOYOTA DEALER ON 2/5/10. THEY EXPERIENCED THE VSC LIGHT GOING ON AND SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM. THEY ALSO CHECKED ALL MODULES AND SAID NO CODES CAME UP. THEY ALSO SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM ON A HYBRID. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS IN MY PREVIOUS HONDA ACCORD THAT ALSO HAD ABS. *TR

THIS IS ABOUT MY PRIUS 2008 MODEL. WHEN IT GOES OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, THE CAR TENDS TO SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. IT DOESN'T OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT MORE THAN ENOUGH TIMES FOR ME TO NOTICE. USUALLY, IT IS WHEN I'M GOING BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MILES AN HOUR OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN SURFACE. I CORRECT THE SURGING BY APPLYING THE BREAKS GENTLY. I HAVE NOT YET MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE I'M REPORTING IS THE DATE AT WHICH I NOTICED IT STARTED HAPPENING, ABOUT ONE YEAR FROM WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. BUT SINCE THEN, IT HAS OCCURRED MORE. *TR

ON JANUARY 22, 2010, I WAS PULLING INTO A HANDICAP PARKING PLACE OUTSIDE A LOCAL RESTAURANT WHEN MY 2008 PRIUS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKES. MY CAR WENT OVER THE HANDICAP BARRIER AND THE CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN MY CAR HIT THE RESTAURANT LANDSCAPING. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, TALKED TO THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE AND THEY WANTED ME TO DRIVE MY CAR IN. I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY SHOULD TOW IT IN. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T DO IT. NEXT I CALLED MY INSURANCE AGENT AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR IN FEAR OF INJURIES THAT COULD OCCUR IF THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AGAIN. THEY ARRANGED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED IN AND REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. *TR

THE BRAKES FAIL TO WORK IMMEDIATELY AND/OR THE CAR SPEED SURGES TEMPORARILY WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY OR SURFACE, SUCH AS GOING OVER A POT HOLE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING SOON AFTER I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR AND HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS - THE MOST RECENT BEING YESTERDAY. AT FIRST, THE SHORT LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED CONCERNED ME, BUT I HAVE COME TO EXPECT IT NOW WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROAD. I STARTED TO THINK IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK THAT WAY. BUT NOW, AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN EARLIER PRIUS MODELS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE MAINTAINED FIRM PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,900. UPDATED 11/16/10 *BF UPDATED 11/16/10

I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY CAR(TOYOTA PRIUS 2008) IN THE FARMERS MARKET AND THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND WENT FURTHER ABOUT 50 FEET AND HIT A WOOD POLE. LATER TOYOTA SERVICE FIXED THE PROBLEM BY CHANGING THE NECESSARY PARTS IN THE VEHICLE. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY TOOK THE CAR FOR TEST DRIVE AND MADE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS OK. BUT I AM STILL SCARED TO DRIVE THAT CAR BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY AND DO NOT HAVE ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS OR ACCIDENTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED. I ALSO OWN TWO OTHER VEHICLES , HONDA ODYSSEY AND TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND A SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AS THE REAR TIRES CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WHEEL STOPPER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,080. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 02/23/11

PLEASE INCLUDE PRIUS 2008 AS WELL IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE A 2008 PRIUS. ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, SOMETIMES MORE, WE DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE, OUR CAR JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND JUST LIKE THE 2010 PRIUS THAT IS BEING REPORTED. WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL THE ISSUE WITH THE 2010 PRIUS NEWS CAME OUT. *TR

2008 PRIUS: TEMPORARY SURGE IN ACCELERATION WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD. "TRACTION" LIGHT COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BUT NOT DAILY. SAME EXPERIENCE AS IS BEING DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS TODAY (2-3-10) IN RELATION TO THE 2010 PRIUS. TOYOTA REPORTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS YEARS' MODELS, BUT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES. *TR

I WAS STOPPED AND TICKETED BY A CHP OFFICER ON HIGHWAY 5 SOUTH OF SACRAMENTO, CA AFTER BEING CLOCKED AT 93 MPH, WHILE I HAD SET THE CRUISE CONTROL OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AT 80 MPH. *TR

VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD ON CURVE, DRIVER REPORTED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. UPDATED 06/03/10*BF UPDATED IVOQ. 06/07/10 UPDATED 9/29/11*CW

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, YEAR NOT SPECIFIED. CONSUMER STATES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER PUT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. SHE KEPT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE GEAR INTO PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF.

PRIUS ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED GOING OVER POT HOLES AND SOMETIMES RIDGES IN THE ROAD. *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT FM OWNER OF A TOYOTA VEHICLE. *TGW 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ACCELERATION SURGES WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD FROM 68 MPH TO 74 MPH.