Jun 19, 2021Speed controlCrash1 injury
For the second time (first in 2019) I was seconds and maybe two feet from stopping the car to park when, with my foot on the brake, the car suddenly and without warning lunged forward at what seemed like full throttle. The first "crash" was in my driveway. The force was shocking and took off the front of the car. I insisted Toyota investigate and they ultimately denied any liability. After the car was allegedly repaired, I started noticing another phenomenon: every time I would slow down to brake--approaching an intersection or stop sign, etc.--the car would briefly lunge forward before the brakes engaged to stop the car. I reported this to the dealer 2-3 times and each time I was assured that this was "normal" for a hybrid transitioning from gas to electric at a lower speed. Two weeks ago, with a friend in the car, I was pulling into a parking space, foot on the brake and about to stop, when the same thing occurred: without warning, the car lunged forward, at what seemed like full throttle, and crashed into a low concrete wall. Had it been seconds later, we would have had our seatbelts off and gone into the windshield. There were injuries. FYI, I have a pretty much perfect driving record and log thousands of miles each year. I had ZERO problems with the Prius I owned prior to this one. I will never drive this car again.
NHTSA ODI 11421482
Nov 12, 2019Speed controlBrakesCrash
I HAD AN SUA (SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION). I DROVE UP AN INCLINE INTO THE "DRIVEWAY" OF THE HOLIDAY IN IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, PULLED UP INTO A SMALL CIRCULAR AREA/DRIVEWAY WHERE YOU CAN REGISTER FOR YOUR ROOM OR PICK UP OR DROP OFF PEOPLE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, I WAS STOPPING THE CAR TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AND HER BOYFRIEND. AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. I TRIED DESPERATELY TO USE THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WOULDN'T WORK, SO I KEPT DRIVING AROUND THE CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE I KEPT TRYING TO STOP THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND SCREECHING AROUND THE DRIVEWAY AND THEN I FINALLY LOST CONTROL AND THE CAR HIT A WALL TO MY RIGHT, THEN MOVED A BIT FORWARD AND BUMPED INTO A CURB ON THE LEFT AND FINALLY STOPPED.MY OTHER DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.WE WERE BOTH TERRIFIED! I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND FROM THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT (10/28/19) TO THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH A PERSON IN THEIR CLAIMS DEPT OR RATHER RECEIVE AN EMAIL RESPONSE, IT WAS 64 DAYS LATER (10/31/19). AND THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE I CALLED THEM. I TALKED TO SEVERAL CASE MANAGERS ON DIFFERENT DAYS WHO SEEMED UNHELPFUL UNTIL FINALLY ONE OF THEM GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME. TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND I AM REALLY UPSET THAT NOW I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT ON MY RECORD AND MY INSURANCE WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR SOMETHING THAT ISN'T EVEN MY FAULT! I AM AN EXCELLENT DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT. I WAS ALERT AND COHERENT AS WAS OBVIOUS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO DIRECTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER, IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WITNESSED ALL OF MY ATTEMPTS TO USE THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI 11279629
Oct 30, 2019Speed controlBrakesCrash2 injuries
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT FAILED TO ENGAGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOT AND DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,850. *LN*JB
NHTSA ODI 11277105
Jun 20, 2019Speed controlCrash1 injury
2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. *JS *JS
NHTSA ODI 11220120
May 26, 2019Speed controlCrash
I WAS SLOWLY ( < 5MPH) APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN A 25 MPH ZONE ON A 4 LANE STREET THERE WERE 2 VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE UNTIL MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE WAS TO DRIVE IT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND NOT TO SWERVE. ONCE I HAD STOPPED AND CAUGHT MY BREATH, I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK AWAY FROM THE CAR I HAD HIT, AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. UNTIL THIS TIME I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IT ONLY HAS BEEN DRIVEN 14,500 MILES.
NHTSA ODI 11210079
Jan 25, 2019Body & structureSpeed controlCrash
WE WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL GOING NORTH. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE CAR IN FRONT OF US STARTED TO GO AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, OUR CAR WENT INTO RAPID ACCELERATION. WE COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. IT CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. WE TRIED JAMMING ON THE BREAKS AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, BUT COULD NOT GET CONTROL. BECAUSE WE WERE HEADING UPHILL, THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET AT A STOP SIGNAL.
NHTSA ODI 11172085