Summary of problems reported on Prius 2010

You guys are far from the first to notice this problem, there are a couple of long threads about it. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/67528-braking-problem.html

 

It's available in cars manufactured late August and beyond. Not sure where it is located. My car does not have it. It allows you to get assistance via mobile network connection.

 

Thanks 202.
Probably have to wait to the next James Bond movie to see where it is.

 

Toyota’s all-new telematics service, Safety Connect™, will become available on the 2010 Prius. Safety Connect will offer four safety and security features: Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Roadside Assistance. Safety Connect will be available by subscription, with an included one-year trial subscription. MSRP for the system and service will be $450. One-year renewal subscriptions to Safety Connect will be available for $139.95, with multi-year subscriptions also available.

 

Thanks 007.

 

THE BACKUP BUG - DANGEROUS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION
(Not just the annoyance of Abrupt Braking)

Just yesterday, my Prius-III backed up with sudden unintended acceleration, with my foot only on the brake pedal. No, the accelerator pedal was not "stuck" or being touched in any way. The parking spot was level.

I recognized what was happening because it happened once before, just over 2 months ago, just a few days after I got the car, when I was backing out of an inclined driveway. Perhaps insignificant, but both times, I had a passenger in the passenger seat.

I suspect that some unusual element of the timing of turning the car ON, and shifting into Reverse, and possibly the internal state of the computer and the hybrid power system combine to produce this "abrupt" reverse acceleration as I am gently easing off my foot pressure on the brake pedal. Others describe this as an annoying "Abrupt Braking", and the abrupt braking effect does occur, but only in response to the much more DANGEROUS "unexpected, unintended" reverse power (acceleration), to stop the car motion. No matter how gently the brake is eased further ON to stop, the stop is "abrupt", not smooth.

Yes, in this case pressing the brake gently, just a little, stops the car, but with a big "Jerk" (the Abrupt Braking effect). Then, shifting into Neutral and then to Reverse again "resets" the software so that further backing is the normally expected gentle movement of the car.

However, the unexpected "jump" backward (due to the unexpected power and acceleration) might have caused an accident, crashing my car into anything behind it. This is DANGEROUS.

And, after the crash, who would believe me when I said, "The Prius-Backup-Bug did it, not Me!"?

Sincerely trying to help Toyota have a better Prius,
Gary,
Prius-III + Nav, made July 2009 in factory "5"

 

I've documented a rather strange "feature" for the handsfree button. It basically stops working when you have turned off the screen. This seems like a poor programming choice.

It seems to be confirmed as a designed "feature" as opposed to an issue with just my car.

 

My List:

Manufacture Date:
6/20/09.

Display / electronics

Problem: Red arrow in energy monitor hard to see in daylight
Yes

Problem: Car computer overestimates MPG
Yes

Problem: Air Conditioning display is cloudy/blurry
Yes

Problem: Delay in answering calls with Nav and Bluetooth
Yes

Problem: Satellite radio signal is weak
Yes

Problem: Satellite radio display is truncated to 16 characters
Yes

Problem: Ghost image on speed display
Yes

Problem: Slip indicator comes on when at a full stop
Normal for Hill Assist

Problem: Can't hear nav voice over stereo
No

Problem: Phone numbers disappear from contact list
Yes

Problem: Apparent screen burn-in
Not sure yet

Problem: Navigation DVD not detected at car boot up
No

Problem: FM radio reception is weak
Yes

Other interior features

Problem: Cargo net panel separation
N/A

Problem: Auto-dimming mirror sensor wrongly positioned
Yes

Problem: Seatbelts on the rear seats are difficult to fasten
No

Problem: Rattle noises from various sources inside the cabin
Yes

Mechanical

Problem: Brakes grabbing in reverse
No

Problem: Momentary loss of braking power when navigating over a bumpy surface of pot hole
No

Problem: Disengaging cruise control requires a firm push on the brakes
Yes

Problem: Squeaking sound from wheels during rolling start
No


Battery

Problem: Small (12 v) battery discharges too much when car not used for more than 10 days
N/A - have never sat that long

 

Repost from: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ting/71142-do-you-hear-rattling-noises-6.html

MANUFACTURE DATE: 06/09

I have a package 3 w/solar roof, and with the illuminated door sills and other crap I was stuck with, it brought the sticker price to north of $28,000.

The center console/sky bridge rattles where the light gray piece and the two black pieces of plastic around the controls meet. It drives me nuts. Car as about 2k miles on it.

At first we thought it was coming from one of the glove boxes, but we can stop the rattle by tightly holding the lower plastic part of the center console on the sky bridge.

Also, sometimes the interior retractable panel for the sunroof rattles, especially when it is open.

If I'd paid $22k for the car, it may not bother me as much as on a car that cost $28k. Either way, it's not what people expect from Toyota, and IMHO, they'd better figure out a way to retroactively put the sky bridge console together so that it doesn't rattle. I don't regret buying the car, and there's still no other car I'd rather have, but this is not something that should happen on a $28k car.

P.S. I would normally not buy a new model-year car because of exactly these kinds of problems, but the cash for clunkers deal was too good to pass up, and I put a lot of faith in Toyota to get things right. Opps.

 

Steve...,
Have you considered getting the rattle fixed?
Your warranty should cover this repair, right?

 

Not sure if this is an appropriate place to reply, but of course I've thought about trying to get the rattle fixed, and will ask about it at the first oil change. But part of the problem is it is party related to temperature: it seems when its warm (and things generally expand) there's not as much of a problem was when it is cold out (and things generally contract). So getting the car to replicate the problem for the dealer could be an issue in Los Angeles where it is never really cold, and unless there's a specific technical bulletin from Toyota on the problem, I'm not sure I trust them to fix it well, or better than I would if I took it upon myself to fix it.

And I'm not so sure a problem like this is covered under warranty. Nothing is technically broken.

 

Yesterday, in the rain, I experienced a complete loss of Regen Braking
for about 1 second (about 44 feet at 30 mph) after
a 1-foot wet-road "slip" on a crosswalk stripe.

Same as the "chuckhole" loss of braking, I suspect.

The sofware needs to check that the mechanical brakes are actually
being used (so ABS could function) BEFORE removing the Regen Braking.
Or, get the Regen back on MUCH quicker, maybe 1/30 of a second after no-skid is detected.

It is definately a dangerous "feature" that should be "modified"
for SAFETY reasons, before a crash or somebody gets killed because of it.

 

Problem: Occasional traction power killed in deep snow
Description: Prius in deep (15cm+) loose snow (Results)
Solution: Pending.

how is this an problem really? Gen3 improved traction in snow by million times - as evidenced by that thread. There are also some other things here that are not an problem such as LCD burn-in (which isnt an burn-in, as it dissapears as on every other lcd).

Honestly after reading that list, which features some real issues and a lot of design issues (which wont get fixed because it was designed that way), i would probably never buy an Prius. Even if I could come with way bigger list for my Lexus.

 

Overall, the problems with the 2010 Prius are quite few, and
the system is very well integrated and works smoothly, efficiently, and quietly.

If one knows about the couple of "design features", and compensates
a little bit appropriatly, there appear to be no big risks.

In my experience (only 4000 miles), it appears that the Prius has improved
over previous models, and I suspect that Toyota will continue innovating and improving.

I am very happy with my 2010 Prius-III + Nav purchase, and I
recommend it to others.

But, it might not be right for all.
With very limited cargo capacity, it is not a van or a pickup.

 

I brought a Prius IV 2010 last week. Its manufacturing date is October 2010. I have experienced the described problem with the brakes a number of times. There is a forward-lunch feeling and momentary loss of braking power when driving over a bumpy surface or pot hole. It happens during rain or dry weather. It does feel like being propelled by a rocket and then a-floating-in-the-air feeling. I am taking the car back to the dealer tomorrow for inspection.

 

ABS! The dealer wont find anything wrong with your car. It is working properly.

 

Yes, properly as designed, but designed ... not so good ... or, just wrong.
Apparently no fix available (yet).

But good to document the event(s), and the safety issues, and get the letter to Toyota.
I will do the same.