2019 Toyota Prius reported problems

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“Frequency when I start car makes a very loud , painful high pitch noise for anywhere from 5-15 seconds”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“I was idling at a parking space and went to turn off my car. The vehicle surged forward and the BRAKE sign came on. I pushed my brake to the floor and nothing happened. I was moving toward a brick wall so I put in in reverse and the car surged backwards. The BRAKE sign came on and I pushed the brake to the floor and again nothing happened and I ended up hitting the car behind me. I immediately took my car to the dealership where they kept it for 3 days and said they could find nothing wrong and it was safe to drive. I just got it back from having the body work done and am afraid to drive it as this might happen again or worse. I am reporting it to let you know and to see if this has occurred and been reported as happening in this make and model previously. I also have 2 witnesses to what happened.”

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“On Saturday [XXX], while shifting to reverse in a back alley to back up slowly, the car engine suddenly and loudly revved and shot backwards at accelerating speed. I slammed on brakes which did not respond at all, thus forcing me to attempt to shift gears which also failed to stop the acceleration. Car only stopped because it went up a curb and hit the corner of a parked vehicle in a neighbors driveway. If I had been on busier street and not a back alley this could have resulted in numerous vehicle collisions and unimagined fatalities. Car is being towed on [XXX] to Advanced Collision Repair on 4511 Central Ave, Columbia Heights, for diagnostic assessment. There were no warning lamps, messages or other indicators prior to this terrifying lack of vehicle control . This was first episode since purchasing car approx one year ago. Incident was captured on neighbor’s home camera. Other neighbor heard the revving and ran out due to spontaneously loud revving of an engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”

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“Whenever it rains the warning message clean parking assist sensor comes on while you are driving. Even after you clean the sensors the warning continues to beep contiously. You can press the back button but it will not stop. Also proximity sensor comes on with this incident. After the rain stops the problem stops.”

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“See Attachment”

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“Since October 2023, my 2019 Toyota Prius has developed severe and unpredictable driving behavior after a regular brake service, which may have triggered or coincided with a software or ECU update. The car, which had been driving smoothly since I bought it in 2021, suddenly began showing false braking, steering interference, and lane instability — as if the car were trying to “correct” problems that didn’t exist. These interventions often happen on highways or during turns, creating serious safety risks for both driver and passengers. I’ve spent months and thousands of dollars replacing parts, performing alignments, and recalibrating sensors, including at Toyota dealerships. The problem persists because it is software-based, not mechanical. I discovered that in mid–2023, the NHTSA announced upcoming rules requiring Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection by 2029. Around that same time, reports from multiple drivers (Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Subaru) began to appear describing the exact same issues. It seems manufacturers began silently updating vehicles to meet anticipated compliance standards. However, this introduced overly sensitive and malfunctioning driver-assist systems. The most alarming part is that the driver cannot fully disable these features — the “off” button only reduces their intervention. This means when the system malfunctions, the driver is forced to operate an unsafe vehicle. As a professional rideshare driver, this problem destroyed my ability to work. Passengers reported me for unsafe driving because of the car’s erratic behavior. I eventually lost my vehicle and income. I believe this is a systemic safety defect linked to premature or unregulated implementation of AEB software. Drivers deserve the right to fully disable malfunctioning systems that endanger lives. This is not just a car issue — it’s a public safety crisis that must be urgently investigated.”

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“The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that upon depression of the brake pedal, pulsation in the brake pedal could be felt without warning. Upon taking the vehicle to a dealer, he requested to have the rotors checked for any defects. He was given a service report that stated that the rotors needed to be replaced. Upon taking the vehicle home, the contact inspected the vehicle himself and discovered corrosion on all four of the brake rotors. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer where they confirmed the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle and that the brake rotors were not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and he filed a complaint. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.”

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“I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY 66 WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLASHING THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS: "BRAKING POWER LOW, PHSB MALFUNCTION, PARKING BRAKE LOW, PRE-COLLISION MALFUNCTION, ANTI-LOCK MALFUNCTION, LANE DEPARRURE MALFUNCTION, BRAKE OVERIDE" . THE ONLY OBVIOUS SYMPTOM WAS THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE BOOST - THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, BUT WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. I AM A FORMER AUTO MECHANIC, SO I WOULD HAVE NOTICED IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER SYMPTONS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND ULTIMATELY REPLACED BOTH THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY INITIALLY REPLACED THE BOOSTER AND DISCOVERED THAT THAT DID NOT FIX WHATEVER WAS CAUSING THE WARNINGS AND DTCS. TOYOTA INSTRUCTED THEM TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT APPARENTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY A FAULT IN THE MASTER CYLIDER WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ARRAY OF SYMOTOMS OBSERVED BY BOTH MYSELF AND THE MECHANICS. I WAS SURPRIZED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS THE CAUSE AS THE THE LOSS OF BOOST SEEMED TO BE A BRAKE BOOST PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS WIDESPREAD.”

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“Pedestrian alert sounds NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.”

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“Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements”

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“Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements”

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“The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.”

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“The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.”