Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#11184272March 5, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS - COMBINATION METER IS BAD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11184221March 4, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
TOYOTA EXTENDED THE ABS MODULE WARRANTY FOR A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED THEREFORE IT EXPIRED. NOW THE ABS ACCUMULATOR HAS FAILED AND TOYOTA WANTS $3-4K FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM FACTORY THAT CAN CAUSE BRAKES TO FAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183313February 28, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LIGHTING SYSTEM HAS ELECTRICAL MARKINGS ON THE RELAY AND FUSE BLOCKS FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, WITH NO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INSTALLED. HEADLIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT SYSTEMS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSING BULBS TO FAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11180976February 18, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLACK. I COULD NOT SEE DRIVING SPEED OR REMAINING FUEL. I DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALER AND COULD NOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE UPON ARRIVAL NOR REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE KEY SLOT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT "PRIUS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOT WORKING". TOYOTA QUIETLY AGREED TO EXTEND WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR 9 YEARS FROM DATE OF FIRST USE OR UNTIL 2013. HTTPS://WWW.TOYOHEADQUARTERS.COM/THREADS/2004-2009-TOYOTA-PRIUS-COMBINATION-METER-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-ZTV.174/ I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL AS IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS AND THE OPERATOR MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SHUT OFF THEIR VEHICLE OR REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. THERE ARE ALMOST 700,000 AFFECTED VEHICLES IN THE CLASS. REPAIR COSTS $925 OR MORE FOR AFFECTED OWNERS. SEVERAL HAVE POSTED VIDEOS OF HOME REMEDIES INVOLVING DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY TERMINALS TO CAUSE A "RESET", WHICH MAY ENCOURAGE OTHER OWNERS TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE FAILURE IS IMMINENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174803February 6, 2019
POWER TRAIN
ON THE MORNING OF 11/14/18, VEHICLE (W. 112,000 MILES ON IT) FAILED TO START OR MOVE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. 12/5/18 ADVISED BY CASEYS, THETOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN .WILLIAMSBSURG VA., THAT THE CVT HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6500 - HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY!. SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD VEHICLE TO DEALER EMPLOYEE FOR SCRAP. I NOTE THE NHTSA IS CONSIDERING A RECALL ON THE CVT'S INSTALLED IN THE TOYOTA COROLLAS. SEEMS OVERDUE. GLAD FOR MY FAMILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172853January 29, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKE, ABS, VSC, AND (!) LIGHTS COME ON AND THE BRAKES BECOME COMPROMISED AND DON'T WORK PROPERLY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171475January 22, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
COMBINATION METER DISPLAY NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION IS TURNED 'ON' I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS THAT I MAINTAIN REGULARLY AT AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERS WITHOUT A MISS. DASHBOARD ON TOYOTA PRIUS STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN IT FAILS, ONE CAN'T KNOW THE SPEED OF VEHICLE, MILAGE, GEAR (D/R/P/N) ETC. THIS HAPPENED COUPLE OF TIMES EVEN DURING MIDDLE OF DRIVE. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I CAN'T EVEN STOP THE CAR. I HAD DO BIT MORE RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STOP THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I TOOK IT A DEALER NEAR BY THEY DIAGNOSED ITS DUE TO DEFECTIVE COMBINATION METER. THE QUOTED $800 TO FIX THIS. WHEN I ASKED DEALER ABOUT WARRANTY, HE SAID THERE IS A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT BUT IT WILL ONLY COVER 9 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ON INTERNET, THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON IN TOYOTA PRIUS MODELS AND FOUND A REFERENCE TO WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY SUCH COMMUNICATION, MORE OVER THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT INVOLVES NO CONSUMER FAULT. I FOUND NO REFERENCE TO THIS IN TOYOTA WEB PAGES IN "MY TOYOTA" SECTION, RATHER FOUND REFERENCES IN INTERNET (ATTACHED). I CALLED 1-800-331-4331 NUMBER THE DEALER GAVE ME, THEY WEREN'T WILLING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE 9 YEARS GONE FROM MY DATE OF PURCHASE. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHY ITS SAFETY ISSUE WITH NO CONSUMER FAULT. FIX IS VERY COSTLY FOR CONSUMER FOR PROBLEM CAUSED BY TOYOTA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11170924January 19, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE RUBBER TRUNK SWITCH COVER HAS DEGRADED, AND CONTINUES TO "MELT" OR "DISINTEGRATE" OVER TIME. ORIGINALLY THIS WAS A MERE IRRITATION, LEAVING STICKY BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS EVERY TIME I OPENED THE TRUNK. HOWEVER, NOW THE SWITCH FAILS TO OPERATE MOST OF THE TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE, AS WELL AS OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11170751January 18, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGHT MY 2008 PRIUS USED IN 2016, THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN THEY STARTED TO RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES JUST ONE, SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS TWICE AND IT IS STILL HAPPENING. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE SAYING THEIR PRIUS' ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11166508January 11, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES DID NOT DISPLAY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11166278January 10, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPOT IN A PARKING GARAGE THE VCS, ABS & (!) LIGHT WENT ON AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AT THE SAME TIME. I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 20 MPH THE SAME 3 LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT. MY BATTERY HAS NOT BEEN CHARGING AS WELL. I PAID $150 AT A LOCAL MECHANIC TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $3000 TO REPAIR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THIS FAILING PART IT WILL CAUSE THE HYBRID BATTERY TO DIE AS WELL ANOTHER $3000 HIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164524January 2, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE INDICATORS FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND PARKING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF DENTON, 4100 S INTERSTATE 35, DENTON, TX 76210, (940) 293-4548) STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $2,787 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163782December 28, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BRAKES MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHARLES TOYOTA AT 860-889-8375 (LOCATED AT 500 W THAMES ST, NORWICH, CT 06360) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162320December 18, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
COMBINATION METER FAILURE - WENT TO START CAR AND NO RESPONSE. LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, NOTHING ON DASHBOARD LIT UP, NOTHING WORKED. WEATHER HAD RECENTLY TURNED COLD. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE'S AN EXPIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY: BULLETIN NO.: POL12-05 THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11157078December 8, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOR SEVERAL YEARS OUR TOYOTA PRIUS HAS EXHIBITED THE FOLLOWING ISSUE: INTERMITTENTLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT LIGHT. AS A CONSEQUENT, YOU CANNOT NOT SEE THE SPEED YOU'RE DRIVING AT, THE FUEL LEVEL OF THE CAR, ANY WARNINGS SUCH AS CHECK ENGINE, LOW TIRE PRESSURE ETC, AND YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO USE A NUMBER OF OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL. IN ADDITION, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR WHEN YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION. BECAUSE YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR, YOU CANNOT LOCK IT. UNDISCLOSED TO CUSTOMERS, THERE HAS BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BEING OFFERED BY TOYOTA, TO THE DEALERSHIPS, TO FIX THIS PROBLEM (WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN, POL 12-05). THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ONLY TO DEALERSHIPS. AS I CUSTOMER, I NEVER RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY. I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT VIA OTHER CUSTOMERS. OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA OF OLYMPIA) HAS REFUSED TO APPLY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND FIX THE PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT THE ISSUE, WHICH THEY HAVE A RECORD OF. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ALSO REFUSES TO HELP US GET THIS ISSUE FIXED AND APPLY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CASE NUMBER WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE IS 1812072507. BOTH TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP STATE THAT THE CUSTOMER MOST REPLICATE THIS INTERMITTENT ISSUE TO A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC BEFORE EITHER ENTITY WILL AUTHORIZE FIXING THE ISSUE. SEVERAL WEEKS OR MONTHS MAY GO BY BEFORE THE ISSUE APPEARS AND IT APPEARS ONLY FOR AN UNPREDICTABLE DURATION BEFORE "GOING AWAY", SO THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR THE CUSTOMER -- THE CUSTOMER HAS TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AT THE MOMENT THE INTERMITTENT ISSUE OCCURS, AND MUST ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND GET THE MECHANIC TO IMMEDIATELY DROP THEIR OTHER WORK IN ORDER TO HOPEFULLY WITNESS THE ISSUE BEFORE IT "GOES AWAY".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11155629December 3, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURES, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE, ODOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER TO MALFUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD BLACK OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARSON CITY TOYOTA (2590 S CARSON ST, CARSON CITY, NV 89701, (775) 882-8211) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE OTHER FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. *TT*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11155720December 3, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. KALISPELL TOYOTA (2845 U.S. 93 S, KALISPELL, MT 59901, (406) 755-6060) REPLACED THE BULBS, WHICH COST OVER $600. THE CONTACT FOUND A WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2018. THE DEALER DID NOT ADDRESS THE MAIN ISSUE OF A POSSIBLE COMPUTER BOARD MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT AN ADDITIONAL COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11154418November 28, 2018
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR FROM A STOP, IF YOU STEP ON THE GAS WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE CAR HESITATES REALLY BAD AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'VE TAKEN IT IN WHEN THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 10K MILES. THEY COULD NOT REMAKE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HESITATES STILL AND HAS NOT CHANGED, IT CURRENTLY HAS 117K MILES. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151547November 14, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. SOMETIMES IT TAKES REPEATED ATTEMPTS TURNING OFF AND ON TO GET IT BACK ON. BOTH BALLASTS AND HID LAMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, YET THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM PERSISTS. I KNOW OF MANY COMPLAINTS BUT DO NOT KNOW IF TOYOTA HAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11145143November 3, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018. THE BRAKE LIGHT AND LIGHTS FOR ABS AND VSC CAME ON, I BROUGHT IT ON TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME WITHOUT INSPECTING IT THAT IT WOULD BE A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL AFTER THEY RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND HE CONFIRMED IT WAS THE ABS ACTUATOR THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENTS AT A COST OF $2500. AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT BUT THAT IT EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2018. THE TECH ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NO HELP TO CALL TOYOTA TO REQUEST REPAIR BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO DO IT. THERE SEEMS TO BE SO MANY TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS WHO ARE STUCK BECAUSE TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WITH THE ACTUATOR AND SHOULD DO REGARDLESS OF THE LIMIT ON WARRANTY OR JUST LIFT THE LIMIT ON THE WARRANTY. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 100K AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE PAYING $2500 TO REPLACE A FAULTY PART ON THE CAR THAT TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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