Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#10808120December 3, 2015
ENGINE
MY PRIUS IS BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. MORE THAN A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807960December 2, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
ONGOING PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE REPORTED MUCH EARLIER. BODY PARTS ARE PLASTIC--LIKELY TO REDUCE WEIGHT--COUPLED WITH UNDERSURFACES TO IMPROVE AERODYNAMICS AND MPG. THE FRONT "SPOILER" IS SET TOO LOW AND SNAGS WHEEL CHOCKS WHEN PARKING. THIS SNAGGING TEARS CONNECTORS IN A "CASCADE" TO LOOSEN OR TEAR FROM OTHER PARTS. AT ABOUT 35 MPHTHE LOOSENED PASSENGER-SIDE INNER FENDER TORE LOOSE ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE (FORTUNATELY LOW-TRAFFICED AT THE TIME). IT WAS RUN OVER AND RECOVERED. I ASKED LOCAL DEALERABOUT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT BUT COULDN'T GET SPECIFICS AND LET IT SLIDE. THIS INNER FENDER PROVIDES STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AS WELL AS SHIELDING THE WASHER TANK AND PARTS OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT'S INNARDS. LACKING THAT INTEGRITY, AND WITH SOME CONNECTOR HOLES TORN, WIND GUSTING AT ROAD SPEEDS (AND FURTHER SNAGGING) OFTEN CAUSES THE WRAP-AROUND PART OF THE FRONT BUMPER TO PULL LOOSE FROM ITS "LEGO-LIKE SNAPS" INTO THE FENDER. WERE THINGS TO TEAR LOOSE AT ROAD SPEEDS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY THE "SHRAPNEL" COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS. SPECIFIC DATES UNKNOWN-HAS BEEN A CONTINUING ISSUE. --SO DATE BELOW IS, THEREFORE, ARBITRARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808076December 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. WE HAVE CHANGED ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST SIX TIMES SINCE MAY 2015. THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY, GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL BURN OUT. WHEN YOU CHANGE THEM, WILL LAST A COUPLE WEEKS TO MONTHS. VERY SCARY WHEN GOING DOWN A TWO LANE BACK COUNTRY ROAD AT NIGHT. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807867December 1, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING. FIRST TIME THEY JUST HAD TO BE SCREWED IN BUT NOW A MONTH LATER THEY ARE BOTH OUT AGAIN. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790578November 16, 2015
ENGINE
MY CAR IS CONSUMING ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY THOUSAND MILES, SOMETIMES EVEN MORE. I HAVE ALWAYS GOT THE OIL REPLACED IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER AND WITH ONLY AROUND 118,000 MILES ON IT, THIS IS VERY TROUBLING. MY DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE CHARGED ME UPWARDS OF $4,000 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND THE OIL PAN GASKET SAYING IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, WHICH IT DIDN'T. THEY DID THE OIL COMPRESSION CHECK WITH NO SIGN OF WHERE THE OIL WAS GOING AS THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL LEAKS ACCORDING TO THEM. THEY REFUSE TO THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM, WHICH I THINK IS A BLATANT LIE. THEY KNOW THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE THE CASE AND WANT ME TO GET THE ENGINE REBUILT FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4,500, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I WANT TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AS I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP ADDING OIL, WHICH IS WRONG!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789992November 12, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE, WITH INSUFFICIENT BREAKING TO HOLD AT A STOP WHILE IN DRIVE. WARNING LIGHTS FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, ABS, ELECTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM (YELLOW EXCLAMATION POINT IN A CIRCLE), AND TRACTION CONTROL. DIAGNOSED BY BROWN TOYOTA IN CHARLOTTESVILLE VA AS FAULTY BRAKE BOOSTER, ACCUMULATOR, AND MASTER CYLINDER. BROWN TOYOTA SAID IT WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS ABOUT IT. ESTIMATE WAS $5800. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED. WAS TOLD IT IS NOT ONE OF THE 2010 CARS COVERED BY THE RECALL DESPITE BEING THE SAME FAILURE AND NO COMPENSATION WAS OFFERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10787355October 30, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 18 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CRASHING INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE PRIED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE FRACTURED BONES IN THE RIGHT FOOT, 3 TOES, A SEVERE STRAIN IN THE RIGHT ANKLE, AND A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 1/4/2016*JS UPDATED 03/01/16*LJ *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10786482October 27, 2015
ENGINE
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, 84,000 MILES: EXPERIENCED LOSS OF OIL, TOOK TO DEALER WHO TOPPED OFF AND ASKED ME TO RETURN. RETURNED AT 85,790 MILES AFTER FURTHER LOSS OF OIL (DOWN TWO QUARTS). THE TOYOTA MECHANIC HAD TO CALL TOYOTA, WHO STATED THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. THE PCV STICKS OPEN, RESULTING IN OIL BEING SPRAYED WHERE IT DOESN'T BELONG. REPAIR, WHICH INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL PARTS, ESTIMATED AT $629.00. THE TOYOTA SERVICE TECH WAS NOT CONFIDENT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE NEEDED AGAIN, AND BLAMED USE OF ETHANOL IN GASOLINE AS THE CULPRIT. HOWEVER, ETHANOL HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE WELL BEFORE THIS MODEL WAS RELEASED ON THE MARKET. TOYOTA KNOWS IT HAS A PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785949October 26, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RECURRING DOUBLE HEADLIGHT FAILURE, SOMETIMES INTERMITTENTLY. NO WARNING OF FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783875October 21, 2015
ENGINE
RESOLUTION TO EXCESSIVE OIL USE: SWITCH FROM FACTORY RECOMMENDED 0W-20 FULL SYNTHETIC TO MOBILE 1 HIGH MILEAGE 5W-30 FULL SYNTHETIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785232October 21, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLES BRAKES ARE SPONGY AND UNPREDICTABLE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TO DO A BRAKE FLUID EXCHANGE AND NOW THE PROBLEM HAS GONE AWAY. THIS ISSUE SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V235000, WHERE NITROGEN ENTERS THE BRAKE FLUID AND MAKES THE BRAKES LESS RESPONSIVE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER SAID THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THAT RECALL AND I WAS CHARGED $150 FOR THE REPAIR.....UPDATED 12/02/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND WERE UNPREDICTABLE AT LOW SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 20 MPH. UPDATED 12/28/15. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783180October 18, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I LIVE IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA. IT WAS VERY HUMID IN WILLIAMSBURG THIS SUMMER. THE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAS FUNGUS AND MOLD GROWING IN IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2010 PRIUSES. FUNGUS AND MOLD GROWING IN THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR IS A MAJOR HEALTH HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX IT. THE FUNGUS AND MOLD ARE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER IS QUOTING $2,000 AS THE COST TO FIX THIS DEFECT IN THE 2010 PRIUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10780462October 7, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAMS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOW BEAMS LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN THE FAILURE RANDOMLY RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAMS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE YEAR AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REPLACED THREE LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER AND TWO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR THE LOW BEAMS BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779310October 2, 2015
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE CURB. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778684September 30, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN APPLYING THE BREAKS BEFORE AND OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, THE BREAKING WILL DISENGAGE AND THEN REENGAGE. IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN WITH POT HOLES. YOU GET THE FEELING THE CAR WON'T STOP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPING FOR YEAR AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT GIVES DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO THE CAUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778896September 30, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DECELERATING DUE TO APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IF THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS A POTHOLE OR OTHER DEEP ROAD IMPERFECTION THE BRAKING CUTS OUT AND THE VEHICLE RESUMES COASTING IMMEDIATELY EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. HARDER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NECESSARY TO RESUME VEHICLE BRAKING. SUBSEQUENT BRAKING POWER IS MUCH REDUCED COMPARED TO NORMAL BRAKING AND SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS NECESSARY. NORMAL BRAKING MAY BE REESTABLISHED BY LIFTING THE FOOD OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY AND RE-DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SEVERITY OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING (COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING) IS SHOCKING, ALARMING, AND PANIC ENDUCING AND RESULTS IN WHIPLASH TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AS THE PASSENGERS, BEING UNCONSCIOUSLY BRACED FOR DECELERATION, ARE SUDDENLY JOLTED BACK INTO THEIR SEATS. WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THE SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING AND SUBSEQUENT WEAK BRAKING POWER DESPITE STRONG BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSION IS HIGHLY ALARMING. THE MOST REPRODUCIBLE SITUATION IN WHICH THIS HAPPENS IS ON DRY PAVEMENT WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AND DECELERATING ON A STRAIGHT OR SLIGHTLY CURVED EXIT RAMP WITH ONE OR MORE POTHOLES. THE PHENOMENON OCCURS IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL WHERE A POTHOLE IS ENCOUNTERED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER BRAKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778100September 28, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SPRING OF 2013. WE HAD NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS UNTIL ONE SIDE HAD STOPPED WORKING IN MAY 2015. AS WE ALWAYS HAVE DONE WITH OUR VEHICLES, WE WENT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT THE CORRECT HEAD LIGHTS FOR OUR MAKE, YEAR & MODEL. WE REPLACED BOTH OF THEM IN MAY AND IN AUGUST (3 MONTHS LATER), BOTH HAD GONE OUT WITH THE INITIAL OUTAGE HAVING OCCURED WHILE I WAS USING THEM IN THE DARK ON A FREEWAY. LUCKILY I HAD BRIGHTS THAT STILL WORKED BUT I HAVE SINCE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHTS AGAIN AND THEY STILL REMAIN UN-WORKING. I AM SCHEDULING REPAIRS, HOWEVER, THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT EITHER IN THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING OR POSSIBLY RELATED TO FUSE SHORTAGES. WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO REPAIR SHOPS, OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, AS WELL AS READ MANY SAFETY CONCERN FORUMS REGARDING THIS VERY POPULAR ISSUE EVEN WITH 2010 MODELS. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA SEEMS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HIGH-RISK HEADLIGHT FAILURE IN PRIUS MODELS UP TO 2009 BUT THIS SEEMS FLAT OUT RIDICULOUS AND I SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO RETURN HOME BEFORE DARK OR BE FORCED TO DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS WHILE ONCOMING TRAFFIC FLASHES AT ME AS IF I'M BEING INCONSIDERATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764055September 16, 2015
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V053000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764085September 16, 2015
AIR BAGS
I HIT A CAR ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR AS HE PULLED SUDDENLY OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE FORCE AND ANGLE CAUSED MY CAR TO ROLLOVER 3-4 TIMES. THE DRIVER FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR ROLLED OVER 3-4 TIMES COMPLETELY. IT CRUSHED THE CAR TOTALLY. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG (AND NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR) WENT OFF BUT NOT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763373September 13, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED AND THE INDICATION OF THIS LIGHT INDICATES THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE HAS WARN OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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