Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10485786November 22, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS OF HEADLIGHTS (ONE OR AT TIMES BOTH) GOING OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. YOU GO INTO PARTIAL LIGHTING OR TOTAL DARKNESS. AFTER A FEW MINUTES YOU CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON AND THEY MAY STAY LIT FOR FEW MINUTES OR SEVERAL HOURS. I HAVE HAD DEALERSHIPS LOOK AT THE CAR AND SAY THAT IT IS JUST THE BULBS FAILING (BULBS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST 10 TIMES LONGER THAN CONVENTIONAL BULBS). THE CAR IS NOW 4 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS YEARLY. DEALERSHIP COSTS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY $350 PLUS INSTALLATION PER BULB. TOYOTA HAS NOW DROPPED THEIR PRICE TO $150 PER BULB. AFTERMARKET BULBS NOW AVAILABLE BUT YOU STILL ONLY GET A LIFE OF 7 MONTHS TO A YEAR PER BULB LOTS OF TALK FROM DEALERS BUT NO SOLUTION. I WENT TO AFTER MARKET BULBS THINKING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TOYOTA BULBS. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE BULBS, THE PROBLEM IS IN THE VEHICLE WIRING. THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM THAT MUST BE LOOKED INTO IN THAT IT PUTTING A LOT OF PRIUS OWNERS ALONG WITH OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY AT RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485266November 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURNED ON CAR AND NO DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO ODOMETER, NO FUEL GAUGE, NO GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR. BROKEN COMBINATION METER. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB - T-SB-0172-09 BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485364November 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FIRST TURNED ON, BOTH WORK. IN A FEW MINUTES THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID LIGHT DIMS AND THEN GOES OUT. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN TURN THEM ON AGAIN, THE SAME THING HAPPENS, BOTH ARE LIT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DIMS AND THEN GOES OUT AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485193November 19, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED, THE INTERIOR DOORS LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB. THE KEY-LESS IGNITION WAS OFF HOWEVER, THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO WERE ACTIVATED DURING THE MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WHO WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE POWER LOCK SWITCH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484721November 14, 2012
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IN INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS OFF EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS IN PASSENGER SEAT, THUS NEGATING THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHEN OTHER SENSORS MIGHT ACTIVATE IT. NOR DOES AN UN-BUCKLED SEAT BELT SENSOR ACTIVATE THE WARNING BUZZER. FYI SIMILAR PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS RECALLING 11,153 OF ITS 2012-13 SCION IQ MODELS BECAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY MALFUNCTION. IN ITS REPORT TO THE AGENCY, TOYOTA SAID THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE OF A CABLE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT DETERMINES IF A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAG SHOULD BE TURNED ON. THE REPORT SAID THE CABLE COULD BE DAMAGED BY MOVING THE SEAT FORE AND AFT. THAT COULD EITHER CAUSE THE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH OR TO DEPLOY WITHOUT BEING IN A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484064November 12, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE RIGHT HID HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHT LIGHTS UP AGAIN BUT SOMETIMES TURNS OFF A FEW MINUTES LATER. I PAID OVER $500 TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHTS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME, OTHER THAN TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM, PRESUMABLY AT A COST OF A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS. I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE INJURY TO ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483933November 10, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (RUNAWAY TOYOTA) 09/18/2012 AT HOME DEPOT PARKING AREA. AS I WAS IN A PARKING STALL, I STEPPED ON A BRAKE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SUDDENLY THE CAR TOOK OFF WITH ITS FULLY FORCE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT WORK. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. MY CAR JUMPED OVER A WHEEL STOP AND BANGED ONTO A TREE AND STOP. INSURANCE AGENT CAME BY SHORTLY AS WELL AS A POLICE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE BIG ISLAND TOYOTA WHO DENIES DEFECTS. WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE TOYOTA MADE NATIONAL CLAIM SO THAT MY CAR IS FROZEN-NO ONE CAN TOUCH IT, UNTIL I SIGN A LIABILITY WAIVER (RELEASING TOYOTA FROM ANY LIABILITY) . MEANTIME THEY SAID I NEED TO PAY PARKING CHARGE TO HOLD MY CAR IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. TOYOTA WANTS ME TO SIGN A LIABILITY WAIVER AND INSURANCE COMPANY TO REPAIR THE CAR SO THAT THEY CAN WHOLE SALE THE VEHICLE. MY CAR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS RECALLED IN 2008, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID SOMETHING TO THE GAS PEDAL. I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW THE CAR IS NOT SAFE, IT CAN TRIGGER THE GAS PEDAL TO GO FULL WHEN BRAKE IS STEPPED ON. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483560November 6, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLAMPS ON MY 08 PRIUS. I HAVE REPLACED ONE ECM MODULE IN THE LIGHT DO TO MOISTURE FROM AN IMPROPERLY SEALED HEADLAMP UNIT. SINCE THAT TIME THE SAME HEADLAMP HAS BEGUN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, WORKING ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME IN THE BEGINNING AND NOW ONLY WORKING ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. I THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE ECM THAT WAS REPLACED BUT JUST THE OTHER DAY THE OTHER HEADLAMP BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AS WELL. THERE ARE AN ABUNDANCE OF PRIUS OWNERS WHO ARE BLOGGING AND COMMENTING ON FORUMS ABOUT HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE WEBSITE PROMPTS USERS TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO YOUR SITE SO THAT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483325November 4, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES IT'S THE LEFT AND OR RIGHT HEADLIGHT SEPARATELY AND SOMETIMES THEY SHUT OFF TOGETHER. IF I TOGGLE THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THEY MAY OR MAY NOT TURN BACK ON. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483140November 2, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND IF SHE WOULD TURN THEM OFF COMPLETELY, THEY WOULD RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482937November 1, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, I PURCHASED A 2008 PRIUS FROM POWER TOYOTA OF TEMPE, ARIZONA. WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE, THE CAR HAD JUST OVER 55,000 MILES ON IT. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OUT, AND I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO HAVE IT COME BACK ON. A MONTH OR SO INTO MY OWNERSHIP, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA, CONCERNING A RECALL THAT PERFECTLY DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. I CALLED POWER TOYOTA, GAVE THEM MY INFORMATION, AND ADVISED I WANTED TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL WORK. THEY MADE THE APPOINTMENT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN, I WAS TOLD I WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE WORK, BECAUSE MY CAR HAD MORE THAN 55K MILES ON IT, AND ALL THEY WOULD BE DOING WAS CHANGING THE BULB. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER 300 DOLLARS FOR RECALL WORK, BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO CHEAP OR LAZY TO FIX WHAT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE SELLING ME THE CAR. I AM WRITING TO FIND OUT WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE. I UNDERSTAND THAT TIME HAS PASSED, BUT I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. IF IT WERE AS SIMPLE AS THE BULB, IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BURNED OUT BY NOW. I REUSE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO EITHER BE FIXED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, OR ONCE THE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. THE 55,000 MILE REQUIREMENT SEEMS LIKE AN UNFAIRLY ARBITRARY LIMIT, AND I DISAGREE WITH IT. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I CAN GET THE ORIGINAL RECALL HONORED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482444October 27, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY CUT OFF. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS ONE AT A TIME, AND MOSTLY ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. I AM UNABLE TO TELL WHEN THEY GO OFF UNTIL EITHER I GET PULLED OVER AND WARNED WHICH HAS HAPPENED ONCE ALREADY OR I PULL UP AND SEE REFLECTION OFF BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. THE LIGHTS WILL WORK FOR SHORT PERIODS THEN OFF AGAIN THEN ON AGAIN. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL AND THE MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA) IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND CHARGING UPWARDS OF $600 FOR REPAIR. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. I HAVE ALSO READ THIS HAS OCCURRED TO MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. AFTER A FURTHER LENGTHY RESEARCH MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS ACTUALLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS, OF WHICH I WOULD RATHER SEE THE NHTSA TAKE ACTION AND HAVE TOYOTA MAKE GOOD ON THESE DEFECTS, AND RECALL TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482177October 25, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OUR PRIUS HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY ONE AT A TIME, BUT SEVERAL TIMES THEY HAVE BOTH GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A LIGHT BULB "GOING" OUT, THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO AND THE BULB STILL ISN'T OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482212October 25, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BLACK RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE COVER HAS DETERIORATED/MELTED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH OF THE CAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REPORTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING/PART DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482111October 24, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE PARKED AT THE LOCAL POST OFFICE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ROLL BACK. IT ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 4-5 CA LENGTHS. THE VEHICLE DRUG ME BUT CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE "ENGAGED" INTO DRIVE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CAR. NOT SURE IF THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR NOT BUT OBVIOUSLY THE PARKING DID NOT STAY ENGAGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481334October 22, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS OF USE, THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) STARTED TO BECOME SOFT AND STICKY, AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS EVENTUALLY TOTALLY MELTS INTO A STICKY, GOOEY BLACK MESS THAT WOULD STICK TO YOUR HANDS WHENEVER YOU TOUCH IT. THE HATCH BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480587October 15, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SCREEN HAS STOPPED RESPONDING PROPERLY. IT IS MOSTLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN THAT DOESN'T RESPOND AT ALL, BUT AT TIMES ITS THE ENTIRE SCREEN. THIS SCREEN IS NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE AIR/HEATER; TELEPHONE, SOUND, ETC. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET DISCUSSING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT YET TOYOTA WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL OF THE PROBLEM EQUIPMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479928October 12, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WOULD TURN OFF. ONCE I DISCOVER MY HEADLIGHT IS OFF, I CAN TURN OFF MY HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY AND TURN THEM BACK ON IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WORKING AGAIN. INITIALLY I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. AS TIME GOES BY, THE INTERMITTENT ISSUE IS BECOMING MORE OFTEN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED WHEN I CALLED INITIALLY BUT I UNDERSTAND HID HEADLIGHTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 1 YEAR OF USAGE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THESE ISSUES FOR 3 YEARS AND THE HEADLIGHTS STILL WORK AS LONG AS I MONITOR THEM CONSISTENTLY WHILE I DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479379October 9, 2012
STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE ENGINE REVVED UP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURVE AND RAN INTO SOME BUSHES. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,102. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF UPDATED 11/15/2012 *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478881October 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SLIPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR, I MUST HOLD THE LEVER IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE DEALER IS CHARGING ME $500 TO FIX BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE READ MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM ON TOYOTANATION.COM UNDER "2008 PRIUS WON'T STAY IN GEAR". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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