Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#11395642February 10, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PRIMARY HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OUT WHILE BOTH PARKED AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. TURNING THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN MANUALLY RESETS THEM TO WORK AGAIN. THIS SEEMS LIKE A HUGE DESIGN FLAW AND MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE IT LEADS TO DRIVING IN THE DARK WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. REPAIR SHOPS WANT $100S PER BULB TO REPLACE HID BULBS THAT SEEM TO NOT ACTUALLY BE BURNED OUT. THE DESIGN CHOICE FOR HID BULBS THAT EXHIBIT THIS TEMPORARY FAILURE MODE SEEMS TO BE A FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED ENGINEERING CHOICE COMPARED TO OTHER, MORE RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS LEDS. NO EXISTING RECALLS WERE FOUND WHEN SEARCHING THE DOT.GOV WEBSITE FOR THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11395021February 6, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS
I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH ON A 4 LANE CITY ROAD & A TRUCK PULLED IN FRONT OF ME FROM A SHOPPING CENTER ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF ROAD FROM WHICH I WAS TRAVELING WITHOUT STOPPING IN CENTER MEDIAN CROSSOVER. I HIT BRAKES BUT I HAD NO TIME TO STOP. I'M NOT SURE THE BRAKES EVEN WORKED AS THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS FROM BRAKING. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR HIT HARD & ALSO DAMAGED DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL, FENDER PANEL. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HEAD COLLIDED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. IT RESULTED IN MY HAVING A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, A FRACTURE IN MY NECK, SHOULDER PAIN & NERVE ISSUES IN MY ARMS & HANDS, BACK & HIP PAIN. I KNOW IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED I WOULDN'T HAVE SUFFERED ALL THE PHYSICAL ISSUES. THIS ALL HAPPENED JAN. 11 & I STILL HAVE PAIN. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11390567January 28, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A RECURRENT AND HARD-TO-DIAGNOSE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2008 PRIUS FOR SEVERAL YEARS IS THE FACT THAT THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAGE, DRIVE / REVERSE ETC.) WILL OCCASIONALLY NOT TURN ON WITH THE CAR ON DAYS THAT ARE COLD AND RAINY. ALTHOUGH NEWER MODELS (2019) BOTH EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE AND HAVE ENJOYED A RECALL FOR THE PART (THE COMBINATION METER) TO BE FIXED, FOR OLDER PRIUSES SUCH AS MINE THE EQUIVALENT WORK IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO PAID FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE RELATING TO THE KNOWN PROBLEMS OF THIS ONE SINGLE PART--A WARRANTEE THAT I WAS NEVER OFFERED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2011, AND THAT ENDED IN 2015. THE 2019 RECALL'S INFORMATION IS HERE: HTTPS://PRESSROOM.TOYOTA.COM/?GENERATE_PDF=58021 EVEN IF I HAD PURCHASED THE PART'S EXTENDED WARRANTEE, WHETHER OR NOT I'D EVEN ABLE TO *USE* IT BY DEMONSTRATING TO THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IS QUESTIONABLE, NOT TO MENTION LITERALLY UP TO THE WEATHER. THE PROBLEM BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR TECHS TO DIAGNOSE SINCE THERE AREN'T MANY COLD AND RAINY DAYS TO SET IT OFF WHERE I LIVE, NOT TO MENTION IT WOULD OFTEN RESOLVE ITSELF BEFORE THE CAR CAN BE TAKEN INTO THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. IT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE THIS TIME AROUND BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE THAN IN THE PAST, SEVERE ENOUGH THAT I COULD NOT TURN OFF MY CAR. THE FACT THAT TOYOTA WOULD HIDE REPAIRS FOR A MASSIVE SAFETY FLAW BEHIND A LIMITED-RUN WARRANTY, WHEN THE PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY BROADER AND AFFECTS CARS PRODUCED OVER 15 YEARS APART (2004 TO 2019) IS ONE THING. BUT THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM ACTUALLY CREATES A HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER--NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR, NOT BEING ABLE TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, OR EVEN HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING!-- MAKES THIS LIMITING BEHAVIOR SEEM SOMEWHAT DESPICABLE. I FEEL THIS RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE ALL AFFECTED PRIUS MODELS, BECAUSE THIS IS CLEARLY A BROADER DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387626January 11, 2021
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE COOLING PUMP FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD CRACKED AND FLUID LEAKED OUT NO HEAT IN CAR AND RED TRIANGLE OF DEATH DISPLAY ON DASH LOCAL REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED NEW PUMP IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. STILL LEAKS FROM HOUSING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387627January 11, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FILLING TANK WITH AT LEAST 8 GALLONS, AFTER 100 MILES GAUGE DROPS 3 BARS FOR PAST THREE YEARS FIRST 100 MILES MAX TWO BARS WONDER IF DIAPHRAGM IS STUCK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11385721December 31, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1, DARK INSTUMENT PANEL, SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, PRND DISPLAY. 2, POWER BUTTON INOPERABLE, AT THE TIME OF SPEEDOMETER FAILSURE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT INSTRUMENT PANEL, YOU DO NOT KNOW THE SPEED OF DRIVING, YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF GAS , YOU DO NOT KNOW WHICH PRND MODE YOU ARE AT AND YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE POWER OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364830October 17, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2008 PRIUS GOES OUT PERIODICALLY WHEN DRIVING BUT, TO DATE, NOT WHEN STATIONARY. I RECENTLY DROVE TO TEXAS AND BACK AND THIS DIDN'T OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY ROADS. IT SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN IN CITY STOP-AND-GO DRIVING, BUT I CAN'T BE SURE. IF NOTICED, BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON IT COMES BACK ON BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS NOTICEABLE. INFORMATION ONLINE INDICATES THAT COSTLY HID BULB AND BALLAST REPLACEMENTS, AND/OR OTHER COSTLY REPAIRS, DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS POSES A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AND HAS GOTTEN ME PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH 2006-2009 PRIUS'S WHICH WOULD INDICATE A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS AND CORRECT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND ADVISE ME ON HOW TO PROCEED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THANK-YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355129September 15, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DASH LIGHTS ON MY CAR WENT COMPLETELY BLANK AND THE CAR IS UNABLE TO SHUT OFF. TOYOTA HAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE BUT IT IS ONLY GOOD FOR FIRST 9 YEARS OF THE CAR. MY CAR IS A 2008 MODEL AND I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS ALL 2004-2009 MODELS. AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR PROPERLY, IT IS CAUSING LOTS OF ANXIETY NOT KNOWING IF MY CAR IS ACTUALLY TURNED OFF IN MY GARAGE. MY MOM DRIVES THE CAR AND SHE'S 78 YEARS OLD, SHE CANNOT TELL IF THE CAR IS OFF WHEN SHE EXITS THE CAR. THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE THE HYBRID CAR TURNS ON WHILE IT'S IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE MY MOM WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE WHERE TOYOTA ISSUES A RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE THAT OWNS THESE CARS AND PARKS IN A GARAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354576September 12, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
ON AUGUST 31, 2020 DROVE INTO TOWN WITH WIFE IN OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. HIGHWAY SPEED. NO PROBLEMS. DROVE AROUND TOWN-NO PROBLEM. STOPPED AT FRIEND'S HOUSE.WHEN LEAVING HIS HOUSE, WENT TO START CAR AS ALWAYS AND THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON: BRAKE, VSC, ABS AND <!> ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR WHEN ENGINE STARTED. OTHER THAN WARNING LIGHTS BEING ON AND WITH BRAKE PEDAL FEEL COMING BACK TO NORMAL , WE DROVE HOME. I PUT A CODE READER ON TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS/IS AND CLEAR CODES. NONE WERE FOUND. DECIDED TO TAKE CAR TO AUTOZONE FOR THEM TO PUT THEIR CODE READER ON. ONCE AGAIN NO PROBLEM CODES WERE FOUND. WENT BACK HOME AND CALLED LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT MESSAGE FOR SERVICE GUY I USE IF NECESSARY. NO RESPONSE FROM HIM. LATER, I LOOKED UP REPORTED PRIUS PROBLEMS ON INTERNET AND CAME ACROSS YOUR WEB SITE WHERE I NOTICED THIS PRIUS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOU MANY TIMES BEFORE.CALLED TOYOTA USA (888-270-9371) AND OBTAINED A INQUIRY REFERENCE NUMBER. SOMEONE WAS SUPPOSE TO GET BACK WITH ME BUT NEVER DID SO TODAY I CALLED BACK IN AND ENDED UP SPEAKING TO A HIGHER TOYOTA ADVOCATE.BASICALLY WAS TOLD THE BRAKE PART WHICH IS NOT FUNCTIONING, THEY HAD A SELF IMPOSED RECALL ON IT IN 2015 AND IT LASTED TILL END OF 2017. IF YOU HAD A FAILURE DURING THAT TIME THEY REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE. .IF THEY KNEW IT WAS BAD PART IN 2015 OR PROBABLY BEFORE THAT, THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL OR REPLACE THEM AS THE PROBLEM PRESENTED ITSELF. PER THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, IT COSTS NOW WITH THEM SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX.THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AS THE BRAKES CAN GO OUT AT ANY TIME. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THEY KNEW THE PART PROBLEM EXISTED AND LIMITED THEIR LIABILITY TO A SHORT TIME PERIOD AND ONLY ON CARS THAT ACTUALLY HAD THE ISSUE IN THE TIME FRAME ALLOWED. WORKING BRAKES ON A VEHICLE IS EXTREMELLY CRITICAL .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351685August 27, 2020
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WHEN IT DOES, OFTEN YOU CAN'T GET IT OUT OF NEUTRAL WITHOUT TURNING CAR OFF. THIS HAS AN ELECTRONIC SHIFT SELECTOR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ON 2008 PRIUS SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND YOU WILL SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11348410August 10, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ONE MONTH AGO. MY SON EXPERIENCED THE COMBINATION METER GOING BLANK WHILE DRIVING. HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST HE WAS GOING, HOW MUCH FUEL HE HAS, AND WHAT GEAR HE IS IN. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR ONCE HE FINISHED HIS DRIVE. EVENTUALLY HE DID. THIS APPARENTLY IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY TOYOTA. THE HAVE A TSB ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMBINATION METER AS WELL AS A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (ZTV). FROM TALKING WITH TOYOTA, THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS SENT A LETTER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHETHER THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR THAT OWNER OR NOT AT THAT TIME, I AM UNAWARE. EITHER WAY, THIS IS NOW A PROBLEM FOR ME AND ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT HAS EXPIRED AND NOW I AM STUCK PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED BY TOYOTA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11348425August 10, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
THE MANAGER W/ AMERICAN TRANSMISSION TOLD ME WHEN THE HYBRID SYSTEM STARTING TO GO BAD ( THE INVERTER WATER PUMPER HAD TO BE REPLACED) MESSED UP THE ABS PUMP AND MODULE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S A BAD DESIGN. I PUT 0 MPH THE SYTEM IS MESSED RIGHT WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PRESSED THIS DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THIS STILL CAUSED A DELAY DUE THE PANDEMIC AND I NEED TO BE REFUNDED AND AMERICAN TRANSMISSION FROM TOYOTA. PLEASE OPEN ATTACHMENT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343650August 6, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343344August 4, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY COOLANT INVERTER PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED, AND REPAIRED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING AGAIN AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. TODAY, THE SAME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS AND GOT THE CODE P0A93 - COOLANT INVERTER PUMP FAILING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343137August 4, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE SYSTEM IS VERY DANGAROUS ,ON THE HI WAY SPEED OF 55 I PUSH THE BRAKE SOFTLY ,OUT OF SADDEN CAR STARTED ACTING LIKE A WILD HORSE SLIPPING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER ON ICE,I LIVED IN M ICHIGAN FOR A LONG TIME ,SO I SURVIVED , AND ALL DRIVERS AROUND ME STOPPED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, I AM AFRAID DRIVING THAT CAR,I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA DEALER, SEEMS LIKE USE TO BE A RECALL BUT THEY HAVE SOME HESITIONS TO ACCEPT THE FAULTY,DANGAROUS BRAKE SYSTEM,I AM GOING TO COMPLAIN TO THE CEO OF THE COMPANY.GOD HELP ME,I WAS LUCKY MY FAMILY AND I SURVIVED ,MY MESSAGE TO THE TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS IS PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK YOUR VIN NUMBER AND RECALLS,AND INSIST TO FIX THIS COMMON DEFECT ON TOYOTA PRIUS ,BY THE DEALER WITH NO CHARGES.VERY VERY UNSFE BRAKE SYSTEM. AND MY INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE ON AND OFF I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEED AND THE ODOMETER AND THE GAS INDICATOR,I HEARD IT WAS A RECALL BUT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT ACCEPT IT. IF I WANT TO FIX THESE FAULTY DEFECTIVE PARTS WOULD COST ME OVER 4000 DOLLARS,TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE,I BELEIVE SHOULD AND MUST FIX IT FOR FREE VALUNTARLY ,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11340875July 22, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WON'T START AT TIMES. A CODE OF P0AA6 COMES ON BUT THEN I CANNOT GET A SUB CODE (DETAILED CODE) TO DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DEALERS AND 3 SEPARATE MECHANICS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS. THEY CAN'T RETRIEVE A SUB CODE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG. THEY RESET IT SO I CAN GET HOME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN AND I HAVE TO TOW IT TO ANOTHER PLACE. CAN'T DEPEND ON THIS CAR TO START.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11339400July 14, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
08 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING GO OUT FOR UP TO ABOUT 1/2 HOUR AT A TIME. EITHER ONE WILL DO IT ALMOST EVERY TIME THEY ARE USED AND SO FAR, ONLY ONE AT A TIME. UNTRUSTWORTHY AND VERY DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11338448July 9, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES WENT OUT. HYDRAULI CONTROL ASSEMBLY ANTILOCK BRAKES MODULATOR VALVE. TOYOTA WANTS $3,806 TO REPAIR IT. THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM THAT ENDED DECEMBER 2017. THIS SHOULD BE ON RECALL, TONS OF PROBLEMS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, PURCHASED APRIL 2017, BUT WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION, OR THAT IT WAS ENDING. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ALL BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, TOYOTA SAYS NOT TO DRIVE DUE TO RISK OF COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING SYSTEM. CASE NUMBER 10664 HAS BEEN FILED WITH TOYOTA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11338452July 9, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY BRAKES, LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR GOING 30-35 MPH ON A CITY STREET, HIT TELEPHONE POLE, AIRBAG DEPLOYED, INJURED. MVA 06/12/20
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11337974July 7, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED AND NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN MY TRUNK AND HAVE ACCESS TO MY SPARE TIRE, TOOLS, FLARES , ETC. BECAUSE OF THIS MFG. QUALITY DEFECT, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TOYOTA PAY FOR THE EXPENSE OF THIS REPAIR. MY CAR IS UNSAFE AS IS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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