How to stop a runaway Prius

[PriusHighlander]

I'm a new member of this forum. Just had to post because I couldn't find a good source on the internet to learn how to stop a runaway Prius.

I couldn't be happier with my 06 Prius or Highlander Hybrid. Neither have been recalled. I'm not here to debate whether this problem really exists, or what the cause is. I just wanted to discuss how to stop the car in the unlikely event that this were to happen.


So...here we go:

- I keep hearing put the car into neutral. It works fine if you are coasting without the accelerator depressed. I have found that this does NOT work if the accelerator is depressed. So if this is true, then all the crap you hear on TV or on the web about simply putting the car into neutral is useless. I'd be interested to know if others have found this to be the case.

- Now, I have had the car go into neutral when I hit the PARK button with the accelerator depressed. So this could be a good way to stop the car. Has anyone else tried this and is this true?

- Finally, I understand you can press the power button for at least 3 seconds to shut down the power. I have not tried this, but it seems as if there is a better way to do this without killing the power steering and the power, it would be preferred.


Any other thoughts on this. And also, any thoughts on stopping an 06 Highlander Hybrid? It would be appreciated as well. Apologies if this has been discussed ad nauseum already. In my brief search, couldn't find good info.


HOW TO STOP OF RUNAWAY PRIUS: SUMMARY OF INFO FROM THIS THREAD!

1) Put the car into Neutral. You have to HOLD down the neutral for at least a little while and not just tap into into neutral.

2) You can also press the "P" button. This will also put the car into Neutral if the car is moving and the accelerator is down.

3) If 1 and 2 fail, try hitting the power button for a prolonged period of time (seconds). Keep in mind that you will lose power steering when the car shuts down.


I find it amazing that despite all the publicity, this information is not well publicized. Spread the word to Prius owners.


**edited to add summary

[David Beale]

The fastest and easiest way is to press the "P" button. It's right in front of you, easy to see, easy to get at. If you are moving over about 2-3 MPH the car will go into "N". If you are not moving the car will lock the drive train.
The engine will drop to idle. BTW, -most- Prius will drop the engine to idle if you press hard enough on the brakes to light the brake lights. There is some indication that some don't do this, but that is to be tested.

The Highlander Hybrid should function the same. It's the same "Hybrid Synergy Drive".
But your best bet is to try it -before- you get a jammed pedal.

[fgoodyear]

When I heard the report on the radio this morning, I decided to try to see if it would go into neutral while accelerating. YES IT WILL!!! I floorboarded my 2007 Prius, held it to the floor as hard as I could while running down the highway @ 60+ MPH and threw it into neutral. **** IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL!! with no problem at all. The hybrid engine will not over-rev when it is put into neutral, it actually revs down. I did it twice just to be sure, yep, worked again. Try to rev your engine while in park, it won't rev quickly or very high. As far as shutting it off..... I haven't tried it, but push AND HOLD the power button to shut it down, don't just push it quickly or repeatedly push it. Anyway, imho the yesterdays incident is a load of stuff. I have had my 2007 Prius 2years and 9 months and 68k miles and had no problems other than it eating tires. Also we have had a 2008 Camry HYbrid for 2 years and 28k miles and no problems whatsoever, ... BUT they recalled it and put in an ugly black rubber floor mat and cut off the bottom of my gas pedal. My nice carpeted mat went back in when I got home, as did my heavy rubber winter mat.

Well, now that I have ranted, I have NO PROBLEM with MY Toyotas!!

[deeno]

I haven't tried powering off the prius while driving via holding the power button in (does this work at speed?), but does anybody know what would happen to the skid ECU (the braking computer) if the car lost power like this? I'm okay with the lack of power steering, especially at speed, but the loss of brakes would be bad.

-edit- Thanks for testing putting the car into neutral and revving it. My lady is actually the Prius driver and I have no way of testing this stuff out without tipping her off that I have concerns about this

[PriusHighlander]

I will try the neutral thing again. When I tried it a while ago, it did NOT work on my 2006 WHILE the accelerator was down. If it does work, then this is the simplest way.

However, I'm glad that someone else has verified the "P" button. I hit the P button accidentally once while I had the accelerator down, and the car went into neutral. This also seems like a really good solution.

[Ogo]

Originally Posted by PriusHighlander

How to stop a runaway Prius

Replace Toyota logo with GM one. And will not run away anymore.

[spiderman]

How to stop a runaway Prius? Drag your feet.

[CarGuy60]

Ogo, this was an interesting post with good following observations, till your crude comment. When thirty five or so people die driving Toyota's your post is out of line. May your Toyota always stop and perform as designed and not perform as other runaway Toyota's have.

[dspguy]

To put it into neutral, you do have to hold it there for a second or so. Bumping it doesn't work, you need to hold it for a short time then it kicks to neutral. I've tried it with both a 2005 and 2009 while full out accelerating, and at various other throttle positions and it always went into neutral.

Originally Posted by PriusHighlander

I will try the neutral thing again. When I tried it a while ago, it did NOT work on my 2006 WHILE the accelerator was down. If it does work, then this is the simplest way.

However, I'm glad that someone else has verified the "P" button. I hit the P button accidentally once while I had the accelerator down, and the car went into neutral. This also seems like a really good solution.

[zenMachine]

I like the Park button method best.