Car rolls forward after stopping

Coming from vehicles that always had a hand-brake, and using them all the time, I cannot, for some reason, get used to the foot parking brake, and am too lazy to get into the habit!

 

Saturday, after parking I got out of the car, but the car would not lock. I couldn't understand why, until I realized that I forgot to turn off the car. I've done that at least 3 times. Drives me crazy, but the Prius is so quiet. I'm old too!

Sometimes when I park on a slight incline, my Prius will gently roll onto the parking knuckle, but that is normal. I just keep my foot on the brake until it stops rolling. Again, this is normal. I'm learning quickly that the Prius won't let me make mistakes, but it also doesn't prevent me from getting older! LOL

 

The car will definitely roll off the parking knuckle though if the incline is steep enough. Parking brake is a must. If you apply it before you release the service brake...you have no roll issue.

 

The parking brake is wasted effort unless you are parking on a steep hill. Just give yourself an extra 2 inches and be sure to turn the car off before you get out. It's not that hard, is it?

Of course if you want to be really super extra safe you can get a set of wheel chocks. Chocks: Your One Source For Wheel Chocks, Chock Blocks, And Wheel Stops

 

I have the rolling forward a little in Park, but I haven't hit the braking glitch at all. The brake peddle is a bit "grabby" compared to my old car, but not so wrong that I'd say it was bad.

 

Evidently, it's hard for me. I've tried to get out three times, yet not turning off the car. LOL....

 

Thats just not true. Lots of things can happen to your car while its parked...it can be bumped...lots of things. There have been cases on PC of Prius rolling away after they were parked. We've had cases over at the Lexus forum I moderate of Lexus vehicles being parked and put in park and then rolling out into traffic.

The system is designed for you to use the parking brake every time, its not designed for you to just rest the whole weight of the car down on the parking prawl in the transmission. Read the manual...

Wasted effort? How...its one pedal? I don't even think about it...its just automatic.

 

I agree people should use the parking brake if it makes them feel better. My comment about wasted effort was uncalled for, your point valid.

I do not know of a single case with any kind of supporting evidence of a Prius taking itself out of park. If you know of one please supply a link. I don't know it it is even possible with the gen3 Prius transaxle. I think there are people who did not turn the car off or push the park button and thought they had. Some of them may try to blame the car, kind of like the unintended acceleration "problem". But I don't recall any Prius enthusiast on this site who has done so.

The parking pawl must be designed to take the weight of the car and then some, that's what it's for. You don't really think Toyota would design a park function that would not accept the weight of the vehicle do you?

Owner's manual, yes I have read it a time or two. I notice that it says to block the wheels while parking on a hill and warns never to select "N" "P" or "R" while the vehicle is moving (page 155). Do you remember what to do if you have a stuck throttle while driving? Hold it in N for one second or push the P button, works perfectly with no damage to the car. But the owner's manual says, "Doing so can cause significant damage to the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control."

My point is the owner's manual is poorly written and looks like a cut and paste job from other vehicles in some places. It contains some good information and some items that are totally wrong.

 

I whole-heartedly agree: the Prius owner's manual is poorly written, including graphics. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW, TOYOTA? Maybe the 2011 Prius owner's manual was upgraded. Now, I would consider that a significant change over 2010 models!

 

Common misconception. The parking prawl is designed to hold the vehicle in place IN CONCERT WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. Its no more designed to be used alone than the parking brake is designed to be used alone.

As for finding links or what have you, I have neither the energy or the inclination to do so. If you want your Prius to roll away potentially, fine, but for everybody else out there...its called a PARKING brake for a reason. You can't be too secure, its use is very simple and straightforward, and even if it never saves your car from rolling away regular use avoids corrosion and seizing of the brake which can happen after years of of it being unused.

 

To reprise others, every car I've ever driven in my entire life (did I cover all my bases there?) has rolled forward after putting it in park and taking my foot off the brake.

I don't see how this is more of a problem than saying that my microwave beeps everytime it finishes cooking and the beep bothers me.

 

I have never:

used my parking brake in auto cars in my life.
heard of anyone using it regularly either. Maybe it's just not in our local culture due to being in the flat prairies.
heard of anyone having their car roll away.

I can't believe people actually think there is something wrong with the car. The amt of play is more than I'm accustomed to but I just slowly ease up on the brake when I'm on an incline so the car doesn't engage those pawls too aggressively.