What 233 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota Prius Phev

Cruise Control Not Working. Traction Control Light Active, Brake Light Active, And Light Active The cause was diagnosed by Toyota of Paris. TSB for C1391 Code abnormal leak in accumulator. The corrective action is to replace brake booster assembly with Master cylinder and Brake Booster pump Assembly.

NHTSA ODI 11673351

Brake failure / Unintended Acceleration / Unknown cause Driving at approx 25mph on urban street (road in good condition no potholes, ramps, etc) I began to slowly brake as I approached a red traffic light. Instead of braking, the car began to accelerate quickly. I pressed the brake pedal again - no response. Pressed down hard for a third time which executed an emergency stop. This all happened within 1 or 2 secs. There were no injuries or involvement of other cars on this occasion. However, had I been any closer to the car in front, I believe I would have rear-ended it. Had this occurred a few moments later, at the busy junction 400m ahead, it could have been fatal. I am absolutely sure it was not driver error. I was not distracted, drive regularly, and have been a confident and safe driver for over 30yrs. I have never experienced this in a car before, and in fact wasn't aware that it could happen until I researched it on this site. No warning lights or indicators came on. The car ran normally for the remaining 2 miles back home. I didn't think anything of it before, but prior to this incident (in our 5 yrs ownership) there were approx. 5 instances when the engine would "roar" as if it wanted to accelerate but didn't when I was breaking or slowing down on a highway. Also, there were perhaps 3 instances when the car felt as though it was "running away" i.e. a slight acceleration - for no obvious reason. As neither of these represented safety issues, I assumed the car was just a bit old and these issues would be addressed as part of any service. Now I wonder if they are related to the sudden acceleration. The car is currently having a "health checks" run, but nothing has been found. I am reluctant to drive this vehicle if neither my dealer or Toyota can discern the problem. Overall we have been happy with this car and its performance, but this is an unacceptable "anomaly" as far as safety is concerned. Vehicle available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11429735

I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I SWITCHED GEARS, FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT DID NOT REGISTER THAT IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE AWAY, THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION AND LACK OF POWER. MY BATTERY WAS OPERATING AT ALMOST MAX CAPACITY.

NHTSA ODI 11310098

THE PRIUS VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZJB ARE SUFFERING THE SAME DANGERS FROM BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FAILURES AS THOSE TOYOTA COVERED SAFETY RECALLS D0H AND K0L. BY EXCLUDING PRIUS WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES FROM D0H AND K0L, TOYOTA HAS LEFT THE OWNERS TO HELPLESSLY EXPERIENCE LIFE-THREATENING BRAKE FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS BEFORE TOYOTA WILL PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE COMPONENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE. THE LAW REQUIRES TOYOTA TO PREVENT THE LIFE-THREATENING DANGERS OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURS. TOYOTA'S COST-CUTTING STRATEGY IS CAUSING CRASHES. INJURIES AND CRASHES CAUSED BY THE BRAKE DEFECT EXPLAINED HEREIN HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA. TOYOTA'S DECISION TO PROVIDE POST-FAILURE REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT - INSTEAD OF A PREVENTATIVE SAFETY RECALL REMEDY - EXPLAINS MANY OF THE CRASHES AND INJURIES REPORTED TO NHTSA. HERE IS A LIST OF RELEVANT COMPLAINTS FROM SAFERCAR.GOV: 10794873,10875685,10876015,10927047,11231660,11219354,11014878,11151142,10680404,10627821,11154835,10983408,10704553,10734278,11173353,11064519,10971881,11186947,10923921,10573591,11243249,10819439,10592400,10919990, 10851950,10855586,11240240,11197067,11193820,11173721,11156466,11144698, 11235210,10550179,11253950,11102264,11044156,11253725,10616134,10875625, 11231596,10584723,11207636,10749388,11014797,11203834,11203591,11193354, 11182610,11155778,11130742,11129946,11164336,10498096,11219901,11154783, 10598545,11228248,10547701,11110691,11164990,11222966,11207630,11192342, 11184751,11183661,11183178,11173804,11173173,11173044,11162242,11144888, 11139660,11121916,11088447,11080403,11061959,10984549,11073636, 11034572, 10870866,10929397,11104163 WHEN THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILS IN A PRIUS VEHICLE EXCLUDED FROM D0H, C1256, C1253, C1252, C1391, U0293, AND OTHER DTCS INDICATING DANGERS AND FMVSS NONCOMPLIANCE ARE BEING STORED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11256504

BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED AND I REAR ENDED A CAR. I WAS STOPPING NORMALLY ON A CITY STREET. ACCORDING TO DASHCAM I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25MPH. THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 12MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED.

NHTSA ODI 11154835

CAR WAS IN MOTION IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, MOVING AT A LOW SPEED, UNDER 25MPH. WHILE IN AN UNDULATING PORTION OF THE ROAD, DURING ENTRY AND EXIT FROM A DIP AND SLIGHT TURN IN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STALLED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, FOR NO MORE THAN A SECOND OR SO THE ACCELERATOR WAS NON-RESPONSIVE, CAUSING ME TO FORCE A STOP BY USING THE BRAKE, AFTER WHICH TIME THE MOTOR RE-ENGAGED AS NORMAL. UNKNOWN CAUSE, HAPPENED ONCE IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAR AND NEVER AGAIN. CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY MY DAUGHTER FOR THE LAST 3+ YEARS, SHE HAS NOT REPORTED A RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11138932

PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL ALMOST STOPPED. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB.

NHTSA ODI 11088619

ON A WINTER DAY MY CAR SLID DOWN A STEEP ROAD AND WOULD NOT STOP WHILE BREAKING, BOTH FRONT FENDER FLARES BROKE OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO ACT LIKE IT WAS ON A SLED. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER I PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN SLID AGAIN AND THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED. I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF.

NHTSA ODI 11064519

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 2014 PRIUS WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS IN HOT, HUMID WEATHER. WHEN PULLING THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A VELOCITY FAST ENOUGH TO COLLIDE WITH AN SUV PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, KNOCKING IT THROUGH A METAL FENCE AND INTO THE BACKYARD. IT ALSO CAUSED THE DRIVER OF THE PRIUS WHIPLASH AND A HEAD INJURY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AS THE CAR ACCELERATED. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CAR ONLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN THE RADIATOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE BY THE IMPACT WITH THE BUMPER OF THE SUV.

NHTSA ODI 10992060

VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN AND BRAKING, INTO A COVERED PARKING STALL. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNDER BREAKING UNTIL FRONT END WENT OVER CEMENT PARKING BUMPER.

NHTSA ODI 10983408

I LIVE IN DURANGO COLORADO. THE TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTION DEEMED TO BE DANGEROUS LAST WINTER. MY VEHICLE WAS SPINNING OUT ON ICE COVERED HIGHWAYS AND I COULD NOT TURN THIS FUNCTION OFF. NEWER VEHICLES HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN THIS FUNCTION OFF IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY SEMI TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 10927342

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A BUILDING AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700. UPDATED 01/20/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10762201

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,687.

NHTSA ODI 10726617

ACCELERATION DRIVING EAST ON US RTE. 50 AT ABOUT 60 MPH: VEHICLE ACCELERATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I NEARLY RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH RADAR ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME. I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAS SPORADICALLY OCCURRED, BUT IT IS USUALLY FAIRLY MILD. THIS TIME IT WAS SO POWERFUL THAT IT FELT LIKE I HAD STOMPED ON THE ACCELERATOR; THE ENGINE ROARED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AT FULL THROTTLE. THANKFULLY I WAS TRAVELING AT THE MAX DISTANCE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. ACCELERATION WAS NOT CAUSED BY FLOOR MATS. I WATCHED WHILE THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED. DECELERATION DRIVING EAST ON I-70: THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SIGNALED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND TURNED SMOOTHLY ONTO THE EXIT RAMP. AS SOON AS HE WAS OUT OF MY LANE MY CAR'S CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED ON TO THE THAT OF THE EXITING CAR AND VIGOROUSLY APPLIED THE BRAKES. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NO GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633228

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE BEHIND IT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.

NHTSA ODI 10631943

I WAS PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE IN MY 2014 PRIUS. AS I WAS GLIDING IN, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. I CONTINUED TO PRESS IT AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I COULD FEEL THE SURGE OF POWER. I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND RAN INTO PARKING POSTS AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE. ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I GOT A CUT ON MY FOREHEAD, AN AMBULANCE CAME BUT I DECLINED AND MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE ER LATER WHERE I RECEIVED TREATMENT. I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE GYM AT 9 AM I HAVE NEVER BEEN AT FAULT IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. I HAVE A WITNESS THAT SAID HE HEARD A CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES BEFORE I CRASHED. TOYOTA COMPLETELY DENIES THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT GIVES NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THEY WILL NOT HELP AT ALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627821

I WAS PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE IN MY 2014 PRIUS. AS I WAS GLIDING IN, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. I CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I COULD FEEL THE SURGE OF POWER. I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND I RAN INTO PARKING POSTS AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE. ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I GOT A CUT ON MY FOREHEAD AND WAS BLEEDING. AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE ER AFTERWARDS AND I RECEIVED TREATMENT. I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE GYM AT 9AM IN THE MORNING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN AT FAULT IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT BEFORE. I HAVE A WITNESS THAT SAID HE HEARD A CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM MY BRAKES RIGHT BEFORE THE CRASH. I HAVE THE PIN DRIVE FROM THE CAR THAT A REPRESENTATIVE, SUPPOSEDLY FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, THAT RETRIEVED IT. THIS IS WHAT TOYOTA USED TO CONDUCT THEIR "INVESTIGATION" INTO THE INCIDENT. THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY NOT THEIR FAULT, NOT INDICATING HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP AT ALL. SOMEONE OTHER THAN TOYOTA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS KILLED. ( I FILED A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THIS MORNING BUT REALIZED I HAD ENTERED THE VIN NUMBER WRONG. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE CORRECT VIN NUMBER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627837

WHILE TRAVELING IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS I ATTEMPTED TO NAVIGATE A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE WHILE BRAKING INDICATING POSSIBLE SNOW BUILDUP IN FRONT OF TIRES. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE SLIDE WHICH IS PROPER IN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. THE CARS DASH LIGHTS LITE UP AND THE SLIDE INDICATOR STARTED BEEPING. THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PROVIDING NO POWER WHATSOEVER. THE CAR SLID OVER THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A HIGHWAY SIGN AND FINALLY CAME TO REST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10597984