Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#11076134March 4, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RUNNING ON A CITY STREET AT 20 MILES, GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK, COULD NOT DECREASE OR INCREASE MILEAGE. BRAKE PEDAL WORKED BUT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND FINALLY STOPPED WITH A JERK. A CONSTANT NOISE AND AND HAS A TOYOTA CONFIRMED BRAKE ACCTUATOR PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP SINCE EXTRA WARRANT EXPIRED IN 12/2017
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11075959March 2, 2018
ENGINE
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. ONE QUART DOWN EVERY 1500 MILES. FIRST NOTICED JAN 5, 2018
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11075254February 27, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE BRAKE ACTUATOR DEVELOPED A LEAK THAT CAUSED IT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS ALSO FAILED AND HE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. BELL TOYOTA IN PEORIA, ARIZONA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11075333February 27, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
PURCHASED 2008 PRIUS IN JULY 2017. THE CAR HAS 85K MILES ON IT NOW. RECENTLY FOUND OUT THE BRAKE ACTUATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY QUOTED IT WILL BE $2200.00 TO REPLACE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE WAS NO WARRANTEE AVAILABLE FOR IT. THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ORDEAL TO HANDLE. THIS IS A TOYOTA STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY PROBLEM FROM THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE TOYOTA DEALER. IF THERE WAS A EXTENDED WARRANTEE OUT THERE THAT TERMED, THEY NEED TO RE-INSTATE IT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT KNOWN SAFETY ISSUES AS SUCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073781February 20, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RILEY TOYOTA (2105 CHRISTY DRIVE, JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMBINATION METER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073549February 19, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO. IT'S A $2000+ COST TO REPLACE THE PART. I WANT TOYOTA TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR SHODDY ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSED IT. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON PRIUSCHAT AND WHATNOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073405February 17, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLAMPS WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. FIRST STARTED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLAMP TURNING OFF THEN PROGRESSIVELY BOTH ARE NOW TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073237February 16, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY TURNS OFF SO YOU CAN NOT SEE HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. DEALER SAYS IT IS A KNOWN WARRANTY ISSUE, BUT I AM NO LONGER COVERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072033February 10, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS AND LOW BEAMS SPORADICALLY STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND FAILED TO REMEDIATE PROBLEM OR NOTIFY OWNERS. PROBLEM STEMS FROM A FAULTY BALLAST IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072101February 10, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ABS ACTUATOR, VCS FAILURE. UNSAFE BRAKING ISSUES. TOYOTA DEALER IS QUOTING $2500 TO FIX. FOUND THAT A WARRANT EXTENSION WAS ADDED BY TOYOTA AS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, ALTHOUGH TOYOTA CORP IS SAYING THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRED JANUARY 1ST, 2018. A FRIEND WITH A 2006 PRIUS HAS THE SAME WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRATION (LETTER ATTACHED) AND WHERE MY CAR IS A 2008 MODEL, TOYOTA CORP ADVISES THAT THE EXTENSION EXPIRES AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT THERE IS NO OTHER OPTIONS, THAT THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THIS SAFETY PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11071965February 9, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF WHILE I AM RIDING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER AND HE TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GET IT FIXED OR DON'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. I CAN'T TELL IF THE LIGHT IS ON OR OFF WHILE DRIVING UNLESS I COME UP BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND SEE THE REFLECTION. I ALWAYS CHECK THE LIGHT WHEN I START MY TRIPS AND IT IS ALWAYS ON. I HEARD THAT ONE GENTLEMAN PAID UP TO $2600.00 FOR REPAIRS DO TO THE SAME THING. HE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. CAN SOME ONE PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY AA DEALER TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE CAR AND I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AT THIS TIME. I'M 71 YEARS OLD AND RETIRED ON A FIXED INCOME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11067325February 6, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE HATCHBACK RUBBER DOOR HANDLE MELTED EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS GARAGED AND NOT EXPOSED TO THE SUN'S HEAT. ALSO THE HATCHBACK LATCH WOULD NOT KEEP THE DOOR IN AN OPEN POSITION. IT DROPPED MULTIPLE TIMES HITTING MY HEAD WHILE GETTING THE GROCERIES. CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES IT HIT MY HEAD BUT DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11066487February 1, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
THERE IS A RECALL ON BREAK ACTUATOR FAILING. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA AND LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT I AM OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. WHEN I WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP LAST YEAR THEY SAID WITHOUT THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THEY CAN'T FIX THE ISSUE. THE LIGHTS CAME ON YESTERDAY, THE PROBLEM STARTS WHEN THE MILEAGE IS HIGH, MY CAR HAS JUST 78000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS REGARDS AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ON MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11065578January 29, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE OR EVEN A 2 WAY HIGHWAY. I AM ABLE TO USE LIGHT SWITCH TO TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN, BUT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. HAVE NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET, BUT HAVE READ ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES OF THIS SORT WITH THIS MODEL. HAVE STOPPED DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. STARTED WITH 1 HEADLIGHT, NOW IT IS BOTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11065758January 29, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
I NOTICED A BUZZING SOUND FROM MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THE BUZZING SOUND OCCURS EVERY 15 SECONDS AND LAST FOR AROUND 4 SECONDS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS THE SOUND OF THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR ON THE VERGE OF FAILING. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT 1.5 YEARS AGO TOYOTA SENT A LETTER TO ALL 2004-2009 PRIUS OWNERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND OFFERED TO REPLACE FOR FREE UNTIL DEC 31ST 2017 OR 10 YEARS/150,000 MILES AFTER. I NEVER GOT THIS LETTER AND MY PRIUS HAS 163,000 MILES. I AM ATTACHING THE ZG-1 LETTER THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SENT TO ALL 2004-2009 PRIUS OWNERS. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE AS THIS IS A BRAKE SAFETY ISSUE. THEIR LETTER CONFIRMS THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY GAVE 1.5 YEARS TO FIX WHICH IS UNFAIR TO 2008-2009 OWNERS WHOSE CARS HAVE NOT BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR THIS TO HAPPEN YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11063356January 17, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 PRIUS. #1 THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY, WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN PARKING THE CAR. #2 THE DASH LIGHTS ALSO INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT COME ON, AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING ON THE HIGHWAY OR STREETS, IT ALSO PREVENTS ME FROM SEEING HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE TANK. #3 THE OUTSIDE AIR AND AIR CONDITIONER, ALSO WILL NOT WORK, INTERMITTENTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11062042January 10, 2018
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE REAR DEFROSTER INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACTED CALLED TOYOTA OF POWAY (13631 POWAY RD, POWAY, CA 92064) AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11061279January 8, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR RUNS BUT DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 2004-2009 2ND GEN PRIUS AS EVIDENCED BY PERVASIVE INTERNET COMMENTS BY OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS TOYOTA USED AN OVERLY WEAK CAPACITOR FOR A COMBINATION METER CIRCUIT SO WHEN IT IS COLD INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICITY IS AVAILABLE TO ILLUMINATE CRITICAL-SAFETY-RELATED DASHBOARD LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT LIMITED IT TO VEHICLES WITHIN 9 YEARS OF DATE OF FIRST USE. THE PROBLEM APPARENTLY TENDS TO EMERGE ONLY AFTER 8 OR 9 YEARS SO MANY VEHICLE OWNERS DISCOVER THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED. OWNERS FACE THE CHOICE OF A COSTLY REPAIR AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE OR DRIVING WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER OR BACKUP CAMERA OR CRITICAL, SAFETY-RELATED WARNING LIGHTS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION FOR ALL VEHICLE THAT DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS DUE TO A RECOGNIZED, WIDESPREAD DEFICIENCY IN THE CAR'S ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056952December 27, 2017
ENGINE
MY CAR HAD PERFORMED PERFECTLY FOR THE FIRST 100K MILES. BY 112K MILES THE OIL WAS VERY LOW, NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK WHEN I WENT IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGE. YET THERE WAS NO LOW OIL LIGHT OR ENGINE LIGHT TO WARN ME. THIS WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE TO ME SINCE THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND THE USAGE HAD BEEN AT A NORMAL RATE UP UNTIL THEN. I BEGAN LOOKING FOR LEAKS, ETC WITH NO EVIDENCE OF THAT. THE NEXT SERVICE IT WAS AGAIN EXTREMELY LOW. I NOW KNOW THAT I MUST ADD ABOUT A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES TO KEEP UP WITH ITS DEMAND. THE DEALER AND OTHER MECHANICS ALL TELL ME THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A NEW ENGINE. SOME SUGGEST A USED OR REBUILT ONE THOUGH THEY ARE STILL MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS PROBLEM, THEY SAY, WILL ONLY GET WORSE, CLOGGING THE SPARK PLUGS AND POTENTIALLY HAVING AN INCIDENT OF ENGINE STALLING OR SHUTTING TOTALLY DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE FIXING. I PAID $1500 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST 100K MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS, AND NOW, IT SEEMS, I AM STUCK WITH A TRUE LEMON! THIS CAR SHOULD BE LISTED WITH THE OTHERS THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED HAVE ENGINE DEFECTS BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BY ANOTHER TOYOTA UNLESS THEY WARRANTY THIS ISSUE. THE WORD IS GETTING OUT. THEY DO NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR DEFECT PROBLEMS. SO MUCH FOR THE VERY UNDESERVED REPUTATION OF MANY TOYOTA MODELS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056978December 27, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ELECTRONIC DASHBOARD COMBINATION METER (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND ODOMETER) IS DEFECTIVE AND INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO TURN ON. THE DASHBOARD IS BLANK. WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO DISCERN VEHICLE SPEED, FUEL LEVEL, OR NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN. TYPICALLY, THE DISPLAY WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS STARTED. AFTER SEVERAL MILES OF DRIVING, THE COMBINATION METER EVENTUALLY TURNS ON. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME WORSE NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS COLD, WITH THE COMBINATION METER TAKING FAR LONGER TO TURN ON -- AFTER 10-12 MILES OF DRIVING. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB ON THE DEFECT AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART, BUT OUR VEHICLE FALLS A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. DON WOOD TOYOTA OF ATHENS, OH AND TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA REFUSE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART UNDER WARRANTY. A LITTLE INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR PRIUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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