Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10327570April 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE KEPT FAILING AND TURNING OFF. THEY WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS THE FIRST TIME AT NO EXPENSE TO HIM. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE SECOND PAIR OF HEADLAMPS WOULD BE REPLACED AT A REDUCED RATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327239April 23, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT HAS INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO AND FROM WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER AND MY RESIDENCE IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. APPROXIMATELY, 75 MILES EACH WAY DAILY TO VISIT MY MOTHER IN ICU. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BY THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE FOR A HEADLIGHT OUT. WHILE BEING ISSUED A CITATION, I TURN MY LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN SO THE OFFICER CAN SEE THAT IT IS A MECHANICAL FAILURE, NOT NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326871April 21, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS - THE CAR ONLY HAS 2 YEARS AND 30K MILES AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT FLICKERED UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT OVER $300 TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB!! SO TRYING TO DO IT MYSELF AND I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR APART. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326611April 20, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE MAINTAINED FIRM PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,900. UPDATED 11/16/10 *BF UPDATED 11/16/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326654April 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS--44,000 MILES, LED HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT--$166 PART + $45 LABOR. I REPLACED ONE IN JANUARY, 2010, NOW ANOTHER APRIL 19, 2010. THESE ARE VERY PRICEY LIGHTBULBS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED AND NOT PRICED TO THE CUSTOMER. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. WHEN THE POLICE STOPPED AND ISSUED ME A WARNING TO TELL ME THAT MY FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, HE ALSO SAID THAT MY REAR TAIL-LIGHT WAS OUT AS WELL. THERE ARE DEFINITE PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR PRIUS LIGHTING AND I'M TIRED OF PAYING THE BILL. MY BILL TODAY IS $250. I ALSO BOUGHT A $1100 EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WAS OF NO USE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326274April 19, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
RIGHT LANE OF FREEWAY 134 E IN BURBANK CA BLOCKED AND VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND MYSELF WERE OBLIGED TO COME TO A FULL STOP. MY 2008 PRIUS WAS THEN REAR-ENDED BY A RANGE ROVER AND PROPELLED INTO THE LARGE PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH BACK AND FRONT WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED AND CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER (MYSELF) WAS WEARING SEATBELT AND SUFFERED FACE AND CHEST CONTUSIONS. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND DRIVER'S FACE IMPACTED STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10326541April 19, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY CAR(TOYOTA PRIUS 2008) IN THE FARMERS MARKET AND THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND WENT FURTHER ABOUT 50 FEET AND HIT A WOOD POLE. LATER TOYOTA SERVICE FIXED THE PROBLEM BY CHANGING THE NECESSARY PARTS IN THE VEHICLE. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY TOOK THE CAR FOR TEST DRIVE AND MADE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS OK. BUT I AM STILL SCARED TO DRIVE THAT CAR BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY AND DO NOT HAVE ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS OR ACCIDENTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED. I ALSO OWN TWO OTHER VEHICLES , HONDA ODYSSEY AND TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325931April 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLAMPS ARE INTERMITTENT WHILE DRIVING. PUBLIC AND PERSONAL SAFETY HAZARD! REPLACED HID BULBS WITH THE PROPER TYPE, AND THE INTERMITTENT CONTINUE TO OCCUR. PHILLIPS D4R HID BULBS ARE THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT BULBS. HID HEADLAMPS WINK OFF AT RANDOM, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I THINK THAT THE INTERNAL MECHANISM OF THE HEADLAMP BEAM ADJUSTER (WHICH CONSISTS OF A WEIGHTED, DAMPED AND MOVABLE SUBREFLECTOR) MAY BE HITTING THE BULBS AND CAUSING THEM TO PREMATURELY FAIL, OR THE BULBS AND BALLAST ARE FAULTY. PHILLIPS D4R HID BULBS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AND ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE BECAUSE THE ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS VERY CRAMPED AND CONFINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325673April 14, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON JAN 29, 2010, I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR ENGAGED AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I LET OFF THE BRAKES AND SLAMMED THEM ON HARDER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. MY CAR HIT THE SIDE OF A AM/PM ARCO STATION BUILDING. I TURNED IT INTO MY INSURANCE AND PAID THE $500 DEDUCTIBLE. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AT THAT TIME. THE CAR HAS NOT SURGED SINCE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323205April 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE FELT THE VEHICLE SPEED UP AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO COMPENSATE, BUT THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW, SHE WAS HANGING FROM THE SEAT BELT UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONSUMER HIT A CONCRETE MAILBOX AND ROLLED OVER. THE CONSUMERS WIFE SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10324846April 10, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THANK GOODNESS NOTHING HAPPENED YET BUT MY TOYOTA 2008 PRIUS HAS HEADLIGHT ISSUES. MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I FIND OUT THAT IT COSTS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 200 TO 300 DOLLARS OR MORE TO REPAIR. AND FIXING IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN! TOYOTA SENT ME A LETTER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND THAT IF I BRING IT IN TO A DEALER THAT IT WILL ONLY COST ME 150 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR. WELL THANX FOR NOTHING TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324888April 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HI, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, MY LEFT HEADLIGHT FLASHED AND THEN STOPPED WORKING. MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IS ABOUT 1.75 YEARS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR THE HEADLIGHT IS $300.00. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE, NONETHELESS HEADLIGHTS IN EVERYOTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED SEEM TO HAVE A LIFE OF 10 OR MORE YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DRIVE TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS DARK AND I SOMETIMES DON'T RETURN HOME UNTIL AFTER DARK. THE BULK OF MY DRIVING HAS BEEN IN THE DAYLIGHT, HOWEVER I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK. ALSO ON 3 OCCASIONS MY CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED BEYOND WHERE I SET IT. FOR EXAMPLE I RESET THE CONTROL AFTER HAVING HIT THE BRAKES. I GOT BACK TO MY SPEED AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 70MPH. I NOTICED A SHORT WHILE LATER THE CAR WAS GOING 95. I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY CAME OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOWED DOWN AS IT SHOULD. I NOW TAKE THE CAR ALL THE WAY OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL SHUTTING IT OFF AFTER I HIT THE BRAKES. I NEXT TURN THE CONTROL BACK ON AND RESET THE CRUISE. USING THE CRUISE THIS WAY I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM OF THE CAR SPEEDING UP. II FIGURE I WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE CRUISE THIS WAY AND OBSERVE WHETHER THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. HOWEVER,I DON'T BELIEVE TOYOTA INTENDED FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE USED THIS WAY. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324247April 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CONSUMER LET UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. THE CONSUMER RELEASED HER FOOT COMPLETELY FROM THE ACCELERATOR ALL TOGETHER, BUT THE VEHICLE INCREASED IN SPEED. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT IT DID NOT SLOW IT DOWN AT FIRST. FINALLY, THE BRAKE BEGAN TO WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE FLOOR MAT WAS REMOVED MONTHS AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324407April 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS [XXX] WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, IF I DRIVE OVER A BUMP, IE RAILROAD TRACK, THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN REENGAGE. IT FEELS LIKE YOU HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT, ONLY A FEW SCARES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY TOYOTA AS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT NOT THE 2008 PRIUS. THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS ON MY 2008 PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324008April 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN
LAST NIGHT ABOUT 6:00PM CST. MY GAS PEDAL STUCK ON MY 2008 TOYOTA. I WAS AT A USED CAR DEALERSHIP LOOKING AT TRUCKS. I GOT OUT OF THE PRIUS TO LOOK AT A TRUCK. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WHEN I TOOK OFF THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK. ONCE AGAIN I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT THE SHIFTER INTO PARK, ADJUSTED THE FLOOR MAT (I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAT WAS THE PROBLEM OR NOT) THEN PUT THE SHIFTER INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS FINE. I SURE IT IS NOT RELATED BUT I HAD JUST HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP (SMART MOTORS) THE PREVIOUS WEEK TO ADJUST THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323701April 4, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FEB 6, 2010 - PURCHASED 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 40,940 MILES. MARCH 1, 2010 - PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED DURING NIGHT DRIVING. MILEAGE APPROX. 42200. LIGHT WORKED THE NEXT DAY, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. WORKED INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THAT DAY. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. MARCH3, 2010 - HEADLIGHT REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP FOR COST OF LABOR ONLY. APRIL 3, 2010 - NEW PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AGAIN FAILED DURING NIGHT DRIVING. WORKED THE NEXT EVENING WITHOUT INCIDENT. WILL CONTACT DEALERSHIP 4/5 TO ADDRESS INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323565April 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLINE ON MY 2008 PRIUS START FLICKERING, MY CAR HAS 44K MILES. ACCORDING TO MY DEALERSHIP, THE FIXTURE IS OVERHEATING AND WILL FAIL SOON. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE AND INSTALL NEW BULB WILL BE OVER $400 FOR A LIGHT BULB. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PART OR DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323170March 30, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *TGW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PRIOR TO PUBLIC NOTICE AND THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED RECALL, THE CONSUMER NOTICED AN UNUSUAL BRAKING INCIDENT. THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE RACED FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FOR A MOMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322675March 29, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 LESS SERIOUS - FREQUENT RELEASE OR LAPSE OF BRAKING BY ABS (ASSUMED) ON IRREGULAR ROADWAY SMALL CRACKS SEEM TO CONFUSE SYSTEM WITH SIGNIFICANT FORWARD TRAVEL OF VEHICLE BEFORE BRAKES REENGAGE. SIMILAR TO MY EARLIER 2005 MODEL BUT MORE FREQUENT OCCURRENCES AND LONGER LAPSE IN PAD ROTOR CONTACT DURING BRAKING. MOST SERIOUS BRAKES FAILED ALMOST 10 SECONDS. TRAVEL ON WET SLUSHY HIGHWAY FOR 2 HOURS ON 55 MPH ROAD WITH UPHILL GRADE AND SLIGHT TURN TO RIGHT DRIVER APPLIED LIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE ATTEMPTING TO TIME DECELERATION TO CONTROLLED INTERSECTION FOR GREEN LIGHT. APPLICATION OF BRAKES SLOWED VEHICLE NO MORE THEN UPHILL COAST, FIRMER PRESSURE TO NO EFFECT, FULL HARD PRESSURE NO EFFECT, SLIGHT RELEASE AND FULL SLAM, NO IMMEDIATE EFFECT, FINALLY ABS STUTTERED/PULSED AND STOP VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322547March 28, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS HIT IN THE REAR, SIDE AND FRONT AND TOTALED FOR A LOSS OF $20,792.00 AND AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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