Prius sometimes lurches forward when I apply the brakes.

Ditto !!!!!!!!

 

Many threads on this subject. Yes, it is the switching from regen to friction brakes. You will get use to it.

 

What mileage have you got on it?

The brakes and brake rotors take take time to bed in. On a normal car this happens within the first couple hundred miles, but with the Prius it can take longer because the regen part of the brakes is used first.

Once it's bedded in it should be much better and the transition/feel of the switchover will be much reduced.

The European Prius have softer pads and rotors and this problem doesn't appear to be as much of an issue over here. The downside is that our brakes don't last as long - even on a Prius.

 

Actually the switch over happens quite a bit... every time you stop. Once the speed drops to 7 mph the friction brakes take over. Or if you have excessive battery charge regen drops out and friction brakes and or engine braking take over. Or if you are braking and you hit a bump in the road the ABS will cause the switch over.

I will say that I do leave a lot more room between me and the car in front than on any other car I have owned.

 

Although it may 'feel' like it ... it's definitely NOT speeding up at all ... it's just the transition between regen and friction brakes has been mentioned. Just ignore it. In 11,000 miles ... I've noticed mine has done it maybe 5 times ... usually on bumpy terrain when mine has done it.

No big deal really.

REV

 

Are you feeling a change in the braking power or a lurch forward. Two very different things. If your car is going forward at a faster rate when you press the brake, that is a problem. A serious one to me. A change in braking power, however, is not.

 

It just 'feels' like it's lurching forward because your mind is expecting braking, so when the momentary switchover occurs it 'seems' like the car is speeding up or like the brakes have failed, when in reality ... neither has occurred. It's just an anomoly of the regen/friction brake system. If you've never experienced it, it CAN be a little disconcerting.

REV

 

my buddy hates that when he goes over speedbumps, his passat cc activates dsp and brakes his wheels slightly (at slow speeds)... electronics!

 

Might be related: I've noticed when backing out of our garage, just after start up: one in a while (not that often), the brakes are very touchy. It's near impossible to modulate braking pressure: they're either on, and near locked, or off. No in-between.

Goes away as soon as I get out on the street and underway. Computer?

 

I have a 2010 prius with almost 8000 miles on it and I have experienced the same thing. I think its ok and the braking system is just syncing with the electric motor and the engine. Mine does it at speeds less than 40 so that could be a speed that the car decides on electric or gas to kick in at.

 

I notice it every so often, as stated before, it's just the switch from regen braking to friction braking. I tend to only notice it when I'm slowly coming to a stop and hit a slippery spot (ice, manhole, etc). Very very rare.

 

And it contains the town for which my family is named:

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Tom

 

These respondents to the OP have been extremely polite. My advice: the search function here is your friend to forestall repetitive inquiries.