Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10307169February 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES ON THE 2007 PRIUS ACT THE SAME AS THE 2010 BRAKES. EVER SINCE I OWNED MY PRIUS IF I HAPPENED TO BRAKE ON UNEVEN SURFACES NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED THE BRAKES SEEM TO RELEASE AND THEN START BRAKING AGAIN. THE TIME SPAN IS SHORT, MAYBE 1-2 SECONDS, BUT THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON FOR EVERY INCIDENT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN RECENTLY AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE 2010 BRAKES AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THE SAME, NO INJURY, NO ACCIDENT, NO PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMEONE MAKES THEM FIX THE ENTIRE PRIUS LINE BRAKES, ALL MAKES AND MODELS. THE INCIDENT DATE IS THE FIRST DAY I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307174February 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN AND MAKE A TURN. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES OVER THE UNEVEN SURFACE, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING, THEN LET UP FOR A SECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH THAT I HAVE CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS SLIPPAGE IN BRAKES. IT'S NOT A SLIDING ISSUE - I CAN FEEL THE TENSION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL EASE UP MOMENTARILY EACH TIME. I'D SAY THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE PER MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2007. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307215February 7, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON DECEMBER 26, 2009, WHEN OUR CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF OUR GARAGE, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE CAR DID NOT HAVE THE USUAL BEEPING WHEN BACKING UP. LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM OUR HOME, HE NOTICED THE DISPLAY PANEL WITH THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, SHIFT INDICATOR, ETC. WAS BLACK. THE DIMMER SWITCH WOULD NOT BRING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BACK ON. HOWEVER, THE DISPLAY IN THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE CONTROL, MPG, ETC. WAS WORKING. HE TURNED AROUND AND RETURNED HOME. WHEN HOME HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. AFTER MANY TRIES, WE WERE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF BY HOLDING DOWN THE POWER BUTTON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME--MUCH LONGER THAN USUALLY NEEDED. WHEN WE RESTARTED THE CAR, EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ON DECEMBER 28, 2009 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND IT WAS UNLIKELY THEY WOULD FIND WHAT WENT WRONG WHEN THE CAR WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD NOT TO TURN OFF THE CAR WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONED. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS THE ELECTRONICS WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD I COULD HAVE THE CAR TOWED IF NECESSARY. I ASKED TO HAVE MY INCIDENT INCLUDED IN OUR FILE. ON FEBRUARY 4 AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALLS, I DECIDED TO CALL OUR DEALER TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD A RECORD OF OUR INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD THE INCIDENT WAS NOT ON RECORD. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD A PROBLEM, I SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT. I ASKED THAT FOR NOW, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE OUR INCIDENT DOCUMENTED IN OUR FILE. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO PUT THE INFORMATION IN OUR FILE. I SUGGESTED THEY JUST SAY THE CUSTOMER REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND THEY COULD NOT VERIFY IT. AGAIN, HE SAID HE WOULD NOT DO THAT. IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, I SHOULD BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT. HOW CAN THEY FIND A FIX WHEN THEY WILL NOT DOCUMENT PROBLEMS? *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306868February 6, 2010
EQUIPMENT
MY 2007 PRIUS HAS THE EXACT BRAKE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS REPORTS OF THE PAST FEW DAYS. WHEN I APPROACH A STOP SIGN ON A ROUGH ROAD AND APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE ARE NO BRAKES FOR A BRIEF INTERVAL. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT A FEW CLOSE CALLS. I THINK THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO ALL MODEL YEARS, NOT JUST THE 2010 PRIUS. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST AN ABS ISSUE BUT I HAD ANOTHER CAR WITH ABS AND NEVER HAD THIS INTERVAL OF NO BRAKES. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306881February 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN I BOUGHT MY NEW PRIUS IN 2007 I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING STRANGE. EVERYTIME I WENT DOWN THIS BIG HILL NEAR MY HOUSE THE CAR WOULD SHOOT FORWARD A BIT AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO BRAKE. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ADVANCED SAFTY FEATURE. THE MORE I DROVE THE CAR THE WORSE IT GOT. I WOULD AVOID ROUTES WITH HILLS IN THE RAIN. IN 2009 WHEN I HAD MY 2ND CHILD I DECIDED TO GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE. IT WAS AS IF I WAS SLIDING ON ICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306897February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS TO RESPOND UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF WET OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOL LIGHTS UP ON DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW. (I FILLED IN AN APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE ONLY BECAUSE IT IS A REQUIRED FIELD IN THIS FORM.) *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306917February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 PRIUS ON MANY OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER ANY UNEVEN ROAD SUCH AS GROOVES AND POTHOLES. BRAKING SYSTEM ONLY BECAME EFFECTIVE AFTER THE SURFACE BECAME MORE REGULAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES AND I DID NOT REPORT ISSUE TO TOYOTA AS I BELIEVE THIS WAS A NORMAL VEHICLE "BEHAVIOR" GIVEN THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN VIEW OF TOYOTA'S POTENTIAL RECALL OF 2010 PRIUS VEHICLES, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR TO ME THAT VEHICLES FROM OTHER YEARS SHOULD ALSO BE EVALUATED. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306975February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE 2007 (THE YEAR OF THE PRIUS BEING REPORTED ) A SLIGHT SKID OCCURS, WHICH ALSO RESULTS IN THE SKID LIGHT COMING ON, WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. HAS BEEN INCREASING IN FREQUENCY -- THREE TIMES IN LAST WEEK--AND USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST MILE OF CAR USE THAT DAY. I REPORTED THE LAST INCIDENT BELOW. HOWEVER, THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED SOMETIME IN 2007 AFTER JULY PURCHASE DATE. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307018February 6, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOYOTA PRIUS LOSS OF ELECTICAL POWER, LOSS OF STEERING RESULTING IN CRASH IN MAY 2009 WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTAL NEIGHBORHOOD AT LOW SPEEDS, PRIUS LOST ALL POWER RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AND LOSS OF BRAKES RESULTING IN CRASH INTO A HIGH CURB. I HAD PRIUS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND FILED COMPLAINT WITH DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS WITH MAIN CALIFORNIA COMPLAINT CENTER. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE THEM 4 MONTHS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT. THEY RECOMMENDED MY STORING CAR AT DEALERSHIP FOR FOUR MONTHS IF I WANTED AN INVESTIGATION. THEY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE OTHERWISE. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND THAT THE POWER LOSS MUST OF RESULTED AFTER THE CRASH. THEY SAID THAT TOYOTA HAD NO SAFETY COMPLAINTS ABOUT POWER LOSS OR STEERING OR BRAKE LOSS. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND SAME YEAR MODEL RECALL IN AUSTRALIA. THEY TOLD ME THE PRODUCTS WERE DISSIMILAR AND NOT A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. I DISAGREED. MY ROUTINE MECHANIC AT MERCHANTS TIRE AND AUTO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I REPAIRED THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND SOLD THE CAR SINCE TOYOTA ASSURED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. TOYOTA CORPORATION'S METHODOLOGY OF INVESTIGATION APPEARS TO BE DESIGNED TO STIFLE ANY MEANINGFUL DETERMINATION OF BASELINE SAFETY FAULT. THE REQUIREMENT TO STORE A CAR FOR MONTHS AT OWNERS EXPENSE AND FOR DRIVER TO HAVE NO ACCESS FOR TRANSPORTATION WOULD APPEAR TO DISCOURAGE ANY MEANINGFUL INVESTIGATION OF SAFETY CONCERN. GIVEN THE CURRENT FINDING OF BRAKE AND OTHER SAFETY DEFECTS IN TOYOTA PRODUCTS, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE POWER LOSS MAY HAVE BEEN UNDER-REPORTED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES. I REPORT IT TO HELP YOU DETERMINE IF THERE IS A PATTERN OF POWER LOSS, LOSS OF STEERING AND LOSS OF BRAKING IN THE PRIUS. *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307073February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THIS INVOLVES A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THE BRAKES OF THIS VEHICLE AS DESCRIBED WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS MODEL. WHEN BRAKING SOMEWHAT FORCEFULLY AND DRIVING OVER A SUDDENLY UNEVEN SURFACE, THE BRAKING CEASES FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO THE TOYOTA DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. THAT DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER IS TOYOTA OF BRAINTREE, BRAINTREE, MA. EACH TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY (THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER) AND THE WIDER TOYOTA ORGANIZATION HAD NO KNOWLEDGE AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY OPERATOR RELATED. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THIS UP WAS SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010. I MENTION THIS DATE DATE BELOW AS THE INCIDENT DATE ALTHOUGH I REPORTED THESE OCCURRENCES BEFORE. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306245February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TEMPORARY BRAKE LOSS WHEN HITTING BUMP OR POTHOLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306269February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE OWNED MY 2007 PRIUS SINCE JULY, 2007. ON AN ERRATIC BASIS, AS I AM BRAKING (OFTEN AS I AM GOING OVER A BUMPY ROAD), THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD. IT IS AS IF THE ENGINE STARTS RUNNING HARDER. THE LIGHT THAT INDICATES POOR TRACTION ALSO COMES ON - IT IS AS IF I AM NOT MAKING GOOD CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS BUT IT IS TERRIFYING FOR ME AND I AM FEARFUL WHEN SOMEONE/FAMILY MEMBER DRIVES MY CAR WHO IS NOT AWARE OF OR HAS NOT BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. FYI: EVEN BEFORE PRIUS SAID WE SHOULD USE DIFFERENT FLOOR MATS, I HAD MADE THE CHANGE. I AM NOT ONE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT BUT THINK THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO MAKE MY CONCERNS HEARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306290February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH SAME BRAKE PROBLEM AS THE 2010 PRIUS. I COULD NOT DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM BETTER THAN WHAT IS BEING SAID NOW BY TOYOTA ABOUT THEIR 2010 MODEL. THIS PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING GOES BACK TO PREVIOUS PRIUS MODEL YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306273February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
1. FIRST TIME OCCURRENCE EVENT: ICY ROADS, AROUND FREEZING POINT, LASTED ONE OR TWO DAYS. A FEW DAYS AGO RECURRED. 2. FAILURE: CAR BRAKES VERY ABRUPT OPPOSED TO THE GENTILE BRAKE THAT IS APPLIED 3. DONE: NOTHING YET, WAITING FOR RECALL INFO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306292February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
SIMILAR TO THE REPORTED BRAKING INCIDENTS WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, MY 2007 PRIUS LOSES BRAKING RESISTANCE WHEN DRIVING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE SUCH AS POT HOLES. WHEN I BRAKE OVER POT HOLES, THE YELLOW WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP (SYMBOL IS A CAR OVER WAVY TIRE TRACKS), AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER, EVEN WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED. BRAKING WORKS ONCE I AM OVER THE ROUGH SURFACE, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES. ALTHOUGH LACK OF BRAKING HAS NOT LED TO AN ACCIDENT IN MY CAR, IT IS A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION TO BE IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306333February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR $800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306318February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 ALSO HAS THE BRAKE PROBLEM AS THE 2010 MODEL. WE WERE SCARED MANY TIMES WHEN BRAKING AND INSTEAD SLOWING DOWN THE CAR MOMENTARILY LURCHED FORWARD. WE HAVE NEVER REPORTED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306320February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWNED A 2007 PRIUS THAT WAS TOTALED AFTER THE BRAKES FAILED AT A YIELD SIGN IN BILOXI MS, AND I RAN INTO THE SIDE OF A CAR IN AN INTERSECTION. (PREVIOUSLY, I HAD ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES AND IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN CHEVY CHASE MD. I HYDROPLANED WHEN USING THE BRAKES IN THE RAIN, AND REAR-ENDED A CAR.) *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306347February 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND BOTH TAIL LIGHTS ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. MY PRIUS INCLUDES THE HID HEADLAMP PACKAGE. HEADLIGHTS WILL APPEAR TO WORK WHEN TURNED ON INITIALLY, THEN ONE OR BOTH WILL FAIL WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. FAILURE CAN BE TEMPORARILY RESOLVED BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. TIME TO FAILURE IS NOT CONSISTENT; FAILURE MAY OCCUR WITHIN 60 SECONDS OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AT ALL DURING AN HOUR LONG DRIVE. THE TAIL LIGHTS APPEAR TO WORK RANDOMLY. I NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, BUT LATER FOUND IT WORKING AND PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING INSTEAD. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN ONE POLICE TRAFFIC STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306409February 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1. INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE AT 57K MILES IN 2007 PRIUS. 2. RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS TWICE GONE OUT, ONLY TO RECOVER AT NEXT USE OF CAR. 3. CHECKED WEB AND FOUND PREMATURE HEADLIGHT FAILURES LIKE THIS ARE WIDESPREAD AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. RECEIVED TOYOTA LETTER ABOUT PROBLEM. DEALER WILL REPLACE MINE AT NO COST TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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