Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10281914August 27, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE PERFORMED POORLY, DIM - PARTICULARLY ON HIGH BEAM, SINCE IT WAS NEW. NOW LEFT HEADLIGHT ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281977August 27, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVERY TIME WE STEP ON AND OFF THE BRAKE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE VISITED 2 DEALERSHIPS TO HELP IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TOYOTA PEOPLE HAVE VERIFIED THE NOISE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE LOCAL REP ORIGINALLY SAID I HEAR IT, DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX IT. AFTER I CONTACTED THEIR CORPORATE HQS IN CA HE NOW SAYS IT IS A NORMAL NOISE.WITHOUT EXPLAINING CAUSE. THIS IS A 2008 PRIUS VEHICLE. FRIENDS WHO HAVE 2005,2007 AND 2009 PRIUS' DO NOT HAVE THIS NOISE. IT IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM UNTIL THE CAUSE IS DETERMINED. SINCE IT INVOLVES THE BRAKES. I HAVE A DETAILED LIST OF ALL THE ACTIONS I HAVE TAKEN, WHICH INDIVIDUALS VERIFIED THE NOISE AND THE INDIVIDUALS I HAVE SPOKEN TO CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. IS IT A FAULTY ELECTRIC MOTOR OR CONTROLLER BETWEEN GAS AND ELECTRIC MOTOR? THIS VEHICLE USES THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. DID THE VEHICLE DESIGN PUT A NOISE IN 2008 AND TAKE IT OUT IN 2009? PLEASE HELP ME HAVE TOYOTA EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND FIX IT. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR FRED ZIVITOFSKY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281979August 27, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
IN THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS "TOURING EDITION", THE HID (HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE) LAMPS FAIL AT A MORE RAPID PACE THAN THEIR STANDARD HALOGEN COUNTERPARTS. WHEN THEY DO FAIL, THEY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN BE TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY, GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF A LOOSE BULB OR WIRE AND DELAYING REPAIR. IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR EXTREMELY SHORT WARRANTY PERIOD (ONLY 36,000 MILES), TOYOTA ALSO WANTS OVER $500 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR THESE NIGH-IMPOSSIBLE-TO-REPLACE LIGHT BULBS, PER BULB, EVEN THOUGH THE BULBS ONLY COST ABOUT $123 EACH FROM A THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIER ($215 THROUGH TOYOTA). BECAUSE OF THE FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY CAUSED BY THE APPEARANCE OF A LOOSE WIRE OR BULB, AND THE RELUCTANCE TO SHELL OUT $500 FOR REPAIR, MANY DRIVERS WILL CHOOSE TO WAIT ON REPAIRS. SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST BULB FAILS, LESS THAN 2000 MILES IN MY CASE, THE OTHER BULB WILL FAIL, MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF AN IMBALANCE IN THE HIGH-VOLTAGE HID SYSTEM.SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AT NIGHT, IT COULD POSE AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. I RECOMMEND THAT A RECALL, OR POSSIBLY A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE HEADLIGHTS, BE ISSUED WITH ALL HASTE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281688August 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LAMPS WENT OUT WITH ONLY 30K MILE AND BOTH WENT OUT WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER COSTING ME 1K TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281622August 24, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ABOUT 33K ON MY NEW BELOVED '08 PRIUS MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING IT CAME ON JUST FINE. I NOTICED A DECLINE FROM THERE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE RIGHT ONE WENT OUT AND ON A SUNDAY TRIP ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. I FOUND THAT IN THE INTERIM TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN HELPED SOMETIMES. NOW THE LIGHTS ARE OUT AND I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN! THE FIRST DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY COULDN'T FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT, BUT AT MY COST. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE LIGHT ITSELF IS THE PROBLEM (WHY WOULD IT THEN COME ON AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND ON AGAIN?) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281462August 23, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PRIUS 2008 HEADLIGHT GO OFF AND BACK ON. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. NEW LIGHT WILL BE $500 PLUS LABOR TO PUT IT IN. ASKED IF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH THE OTHER SIDE AND DEALER SAYS YES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281337August 21, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND STATED THAT THE COIL PACKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE COIL PACKS WERE REPLACED THE FAILURE RECURRED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY REMOVED AND DISMANTLED THE ENGINE AND FOUND WATER IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT HAS REQUESTED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED AT NO COST BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE IT WAS A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,201 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280947August 19, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. I CAN'T RELIABLY FILL IT UP OR RELY ON THE FUEL GAGE TO DETERMINE ENDURANCE. RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IN THE LEFT LANE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280807August 18, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND FORMERLY OWNED A 2003 PRIUS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES, I WAS MADE AWARE BY OTHERS THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I LEARNED THE LAMP WOULD TURN ON IF I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURNED THEM BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE SINCE BEEN PULLED OVER THREE TIMES DUE TO A HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. THE FUNCTION OF THE LIGHT HAS BECOME VERY INCONSISTENT- I CONDUCTED A ROAD TEST OF OVER 30 MILES (AUTO MILEAGE 47000) RESULTING IN THE DRIVERS SIDE LAMP BURNING OUT SEVEN TIMES WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP TO DRIVING CONDITIONS (SPEED, BUMPS ETC). THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE PAID ALMOST $200 TO TOYOTA DEALERS WHO COULD NOT ISOLATE A PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, I CARRY THE DEALER INFO WITH ME SO WHEN I GET PULLED OVER AGAIN, I CAN SHOW THE OFFICER I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SINCE THEN I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. I HAVE EVEN SEEN OTHER PRIUS' WITH THE DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280896August 18, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, AT A LIGHT. LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN. CAR AHEAD OF PULLED FORWARD. I MOVED FORWARD, ~15-20MPH. CAR AHEAD STOPPED. I RELEASED ACCELERATOR AND PRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL. CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN, KEPT MOVING FORWARD AS IF ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. BRAKE PEDAL FELT 'HARD', IT DID NOT MOVE DOWN. I KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKES FINALLY TOOK HOLD AND CAR STOPPED. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280302August 13, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO CHANGE COLOR AND INTENSITY AND THEN BEGAN TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON IF I TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTES $655 FOR THIS REPAIR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AMONG MANY PRIUS OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280378August 13, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS MOSTLY IN DARK CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS AND BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF UNTIL THEY REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279738August 7, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF. IF I TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY AND TURN THEM BACK ON THEY WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT THEMSELVES AND STAY ON FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OFF AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279110August 2, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DEFECTIVE HID HEADLIGHTS OF PRIUS BY TOYOTA. MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN FADING, INTERMITTENTLY CEASING AND EVENTUALLY CEASED COMPLETELY AROUND 2ND WEEK OF JULY, 2009. THE 100K MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT COVER THIS REPLACEMENT. SO, I HAD TO PAY $325 DOLLARS ON JULY 24TH TO REPLACE IT. THAT EVENING, THE RIGHT SIDE HID HEADLIGHT BEGAN HAVING THE SAME GRADUAL FAILURE AND IT'S NOW WORKING WEAKLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. ANOTHER $325 DOLLARS WILL BE NEEDED TO PAY FOR IT AND I DON'T HAVE IT. FOR MONTHS, I HAVE OBSERVED OTHER PRIUS WITH 1 HEADLIGHT OUT AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, PUNISH AND MANDATE A RECALL FROM TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278406July 27, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 2008 PRIUS TOURING MODEL. THE LIGHT FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT FLICKERS WHEN TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN BUT DOES NOT REILLUMINATE. MILEAGE IS 30. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278213July 24, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT(S) TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF ANYTIME FROM 2-30 MINUTES AFTER BEING TURNED ON. SOMETIMES THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF. ON ONE OCCASION, THE REMAINING LIGHT TURNED OFF, LEAVING ME IN THE DARK! LUCKILY, I WAS IN A 30MPH ZONE WITH STREET LIGHTS. THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON SOMEHOW RESETS THEM. INTERNET REPORTS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HID HEADLIGHTS ON THE PRIUS. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, AS MY LOCAL POLICE HAVE TWICE INFORMED ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277494July 20, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS (LIGHT GOES OUT) APPROXIMATELY 30-60 SECONDS AFTER VEHICLE STARTUP. THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FAILED (REPLACED) NINE MONTHS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277203July 17, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH FRONT HEADLAMPS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF FIXES IT FOR A SHORT WHILE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING IF THE LIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277213July 17, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING NEARLY DAILY SINCE MAY 2009. PROBLEM OCCURS ON BOTH SMOOTH AND BUMPY ROADS AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276530July 13, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON 12JUL2008 I WAS RETURNING HOME AND DRIVING ON HWY 70 EAST,NEAR GOLDSBORO, NC. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX 55-60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL. THE TRAFFIC WAS GETTING HEAVY AND I HAD TO SLOW DOWN. SO I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT RESPOND OR DISENGAGE AT THAT TIME. SO I KEPT APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY. WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE AGAIN WANTED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OFF AND WAIT A SHORT TIME. I RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERY SEEM TO BE OK. ON 13JUL09 I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY A TOYOTA OF NEW BERN, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE ON IT AND NOTIFY THERE COMPANY. I JUST WANTED TO WRITE THIS NOTICE IN CASE IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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