Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10678434January 22, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT HEADLIGHT STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AROUND 50,000 MILES, THEN FINALLY FAILED. REPLACING THE BULB DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN LEFT HEADLIGHT COMPLETELY FAILED AROUND 63,000 MILES. IT WAS DEFINITELY ANNOYING TO HAVE ONE FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT, AND NOW IT'S JUST PLAIN UNSAFE NOT TO HAVE ANY AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678150January 21, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS IN RAINY WEATHER (NORMAL FOR SEATTLE) NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 5 IN RELATIVELY HEAVY TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN, SO I BRAKE AND DECREASED MY SPEED FURTHER. AS I GOT CLOSER TO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME, I PUSHED MORE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CAR JUST KEPT MOVING ALONG AND I RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY MY SPEED WAS ONLY 5-7 MPH. THE OTHER CAR, AN SUV, WAS NOT DAMAGED. MY FRONT HOOD WAS QUITE CRUNCHED. NO ONE WAS HURT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE BRAKES SIMPLY DID NOT ENGAGE AT THE LAST MOMENT. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE RECALLS OF 2010 PRIUS' BECAUSE OF ABS FAILURES, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF AT LEAST ONE 2008 PRIUS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676340January 18, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL - TURN OFF - DURING DRIVING (WITHOUT WARNING). FORTUNATELY, SO FAR ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED AT ONCE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT SO FAR THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ENOUGH PROBLEMS, APPARENTLY, TO JUSTIFY A SAFETY RECALL. SEEMS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS THING - AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF GOOD FORTUNE ON TOYOTA'S PART THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN FATALITIES (TO MY KNOWLEDGE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676264January 18, 2015
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE ELECTRIC HYBRID PUMP FAILED ON 01/08/2013 AND WAS REPLACED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL, AND LESS THAN 13 THOUSAND MILES AND 4 MONTHS LATER (05/13/14), THE SAME PART FAILED AGAIN AND THIS TIME I WAS CHARGED OVER $700 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672441January 14, 2015
STRUCTURE
THE LATCH COVER ON THE HATCHBACK HAS DETERIORATED AND IS ALMOST COMPLETELY MELTED AWAY. IN WARM WEATHER IT IS INCREDIBLY STICKY AND ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES IT GETS BLACK GOO ON IT, AND THE GOO IS HARD TO REMOVE FORM HANDS OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT HAS BEEN HARD TO OPEN FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, AND HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT TODAY AT A COST OF $285. I EMAILED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS IS AN ISSUE ON THEIR VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671739January 12, 2015
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THIS WEBSITE IN THE PAST. THE TRACTION CONTROL DISABLES THE DRIVE WHEELS INCONSISTENTLY AND ARBITRARILY UNDER MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, OFTEN RESULTING IN A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP ON DRY OR WET PAVEMENT OR WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS/HOLES AT LOW SPEEDS (25-45 MPH). THIS IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT - POWER IS CUT, SLOWING ENTRY INTO MOVING TRAFFIC AND INCREASING ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TELLS US THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. SURELY IT'S A SERIOUS ENOUGH HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670237January 5, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR CAR WAS EXHIBITING A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS ALREADY FOUND AND DOCUMENTED ON THEIR SITE, SAYING THAT THEY ARE DOING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE GROSSLY MISMANAGED THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY BY NOT PROVIDING THE PART AT ALL OR PERHAPS AT SOME FAR FUTURE TIME (WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL GET OUR CAR BACK, PERHAPS MONTHS OR NEVER). WHEN WORD GETS OUT THAT CUSTOMERS WHO BRING THEIR CAR IN TO GET FIXED HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY GET THEIR CAR BACK, THEY WILL INSTEAD KEEP DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE HIGHLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. THE DEFECT IS THE COMBINATION METER, WHICH CONTROLS THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS. WHEN IT GOES DOWN, NONE OF THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS WORK AND THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR HE OR SHE IS IN, HOW MUCH GASOLINE IS IN THE TANK, WHAT SPEED THE CAR IS GOING, ETC. THESE ARE THE CARS THAT TOYOTA IS LEAVING ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY ARE YET AGAIN INCOMPETENTLY MANAGING A SAFETY DEFECT. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES AND DEATHS. I SPOKE TO [XXX] AT TOYOTA TODAY (JANUARY 5, 2015), AND, BASED ON THE CONVERSATION, TOYOTA COULD CARE LESS WHETHER THIS IS HANDLED RIGHT OR NOT. SHE DID NOT SEEM THE LEAST BIT ALARMED, AND INDICATED THAT THEIR COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO DO NOTHING. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART LAST MONDAY, BUT, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA'S TRACKING OF THIS PART IS COMPLETELY DISORGANIZED. TOYOTA HAS NO IDEA WHEN IT WENT OUT AND IS IGNORING THE TRACKING INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE SHIPPER (APPARENTLY UPS) SO THE CUSTOMERS HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY GET THEIR CARS BACK. CUSTOMERS ARE NOT GIVEN LOANER CARS. IF THEY TURN THEIR CARS IN TO BE FIXED, THEY CANNOT GO TO WORK. THEREFORE, THEY WILL DRIVE WITH THE DANGEROUS DEFECT. ALSO, CAR OWNERS ARE NOT BEING NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THEY ONLY FIND OUT THE HARD WAY, PERHAPS RIGHT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670251January 5, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669928January 4, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER HEADLAMP TURNS OFF AFTER APPROX 5 MINUTES OF USE. CAN TURN LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO RESTART HEADLAMP. I FIRST TOOK TO DEALER AFTER PURCHASING USED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DID NOT MENTION WHAT I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED IS A KNOWN DEFECT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. CHANGING BULB FIXES PROBLEM FOR A WHILE BUT PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AND TOYOTA IS CHARGING EXORBITANT RATES TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT OR FOR LONG DISTANCES. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A PERMANENT FIX! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670009January 4, 2015
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THE CAR MOVES FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL MODE. I PUT THE CAR IN "D" AND IT SUDDENLY MOVED BACK TO "N". KEEP THE LEVER HELD ON "D" AND YOU CAN DRIVE, OTHERWISE IT SWITCHES BACK TO "N". HAPPENED 3 TO 4 TIMES TODAY. VERY SCARED IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR GETTING STARTED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AS THE CAR BEHIND MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPACE OR INDICATION OF THE VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF LOSS OF ACCELERATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669156December 30, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT RELIABLE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668150December 24, 2014
STEERING, WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING MY PRIUS WITH 130,000 MILES LAST NIGHT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURING A COUNTERCLOCKWISE,(LEFT-HAND) MODERATE CURVE. THE "CIRCLE" ENDED AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE I WAS TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I TURNED MY STEERING TO THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THE COUNTERCLOCKWISE TRAJECTORY, BUT MY FRONT WHEELS SEEMED TO BE "LOCKED" IN THE LEFT TURNING MOTION. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES, BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM CLIMBING THE CURB AND SIDESWIPING A TREE, CAUSING MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO BE SHOVED BACKWARD TOWARDS THE DRIVER DOOR IN THE WHEEL FRAME. MY CAR IS NOW AT A BODY SHOP WITH AN AGREED $5600.00 IN DAMAGE, MOSTLY TO THE STEERING ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION, AND WHEEL/AXLE. THE WHEEL PANEL ABOVE THE WHEEL WILL BE REPLACED, AND SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT BUMPER AND DRIVER DOOR WILL BE REPAIRED. WORK IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY 5. I BELIEVE THAT THE CONDITION WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK IN A LEFT-TURN CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING ON A DRY ROAD IS A SERIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR WHICH I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED .FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND NO INJURIES, AND EVEN THE TREE SEEMS UNSCATHED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN CONGESTED HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH MY PRIUS' PERFORMANCE TO THIS POINT, BUT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MATTER AS EVIDENCED BY STEERING RELATED RECALLS ON SIMILAR VINTAGE PRIUS MODELS. I REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR, MINDFUL THAT THESE EXPENSES COULD BE A LOT HIGHER HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAD PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED THIS INFORMATION TO A TOYOTA INQUIRY WEBSITE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR RESPONSE FORM TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667859December 23, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN MELTING LAST SUMMER, LEAVING A STICKY BLACK RESIDUE ON MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. IT NOW TAKES BOTH HANDS AND A LOT OF PRESSURE/STRENGTH TO EVEN OPEN IT. I SEE THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, YET TOYOTA DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL AND IS INSTEAD, DEMANDING $315 TO REPLACE IT. SINCE THE INABILITY TO QUICKLY ACCESS THE TRUNK IN AM EMERGENCY PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN, I FEEL THAT I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO REPLACE IT. IT WILL BE THE LAST TOYOTA THAT I OWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667546December 21, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING UP PROVO CANYON AT 4:30AM AND SUDDENLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE I HAD ZERO VISIBILITY. I NOW HAVE TO TOGGLE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SHORT, BUT FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE REPAIR COSTS CAN BE VERY STEEP--$800-$1800 DOLLARS TO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AND THAT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THE 2008 PRIUS MODEL AND FIX THE OBVIOUS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THAT EARLY MORNING DRIVE AND NOW I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE AWARE THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!! IT IS MORE THAN ANNOYING--IT IS A VERY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE CORPORATION!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667405December 20, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPIRAL CABLE THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL (RADIO, HEATING,AIR CONDITIONING, ETC. FAILED). IN SOME VEHICLES THE AIR BAG POWER SUPPLY IS ROUTED THROUGH THIS CABLE AND THE AIR BAG POWER SUPPLY FAILS WHEN THE SPIRAL CABLE FAILS. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON BUT MOST OF THE OTHER SWITCHES CEASED WORKING).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667246December 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PURCHASED USED IN OCT 2013, FIRST HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT IN DEC 2013. HAVE REPLACED RIGHT HEADLIGHT 6 TIMES AND BALLAST ONCE. PROBLEM ONLY TEMPORARILY RESOLVED. THIS MONTH HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. HAVE REPLACED BALLAST AND BULB WITH NO SUCCESS. HEADLIGHT WILL NOT STAY ON LONGER THAN 30 SEC BEFORE GOING BACK OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663675December 11, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP HAS BEEN GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR MANY YEARS. NOW, BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AND I AM DRIVING WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ONLY? VERY DANGEROUS! IF TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FIX! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663390December 10, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE, ABS, AND VSC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DRAGGED WITHOUT PRESSURE BEING APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663239December 9, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE HATCHBACK LIFT HAS DETERIORATED AND NO LONGER WORKS. THE TOYOTA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE QUOTED ME $570 TO REPLACE IT, STATING IT COULD POSE AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SAFETY ISSUE. NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED AND SINCE IT IS KEYLESS ... HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? THE CLEAR COAT HAS DEGRADED ONLY ON THE PIECE OF METAL THAT ENCLOSES THE HATCHBACK'S LIFT MECHANISM AND STARTED FLAKING ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO LIFT THE HATCHBACK. COULD THESE TWO FAILURES BE RELATED? WHEN THESE PROBLEMS STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT THERE MIGHT BE A CONNECTION. THE SERVICE REP IGNORED MY QUESTION ABOUT A POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662496December 6, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE HAVE TWO PRIUS CARS WITH SAME ISSUE - WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY THE CAR JERKS AND HESITATE AS THE ANTI SLIP SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES AND ENGAGES. YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC FROM A DEAD STOP MAKING A TURN AS THE CAR REFUSES, JERKS AND ACTS LIKE IT WILL STALL. PAVEMENT IS DRY AND NO GRAVEL. HAPPENS EACH AND EVERY TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. EASY TO REPLICATE. COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN TURN RIGHT WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN QUICKLY AND THE SLIP SYSTEM KICKS, CAR JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN VERY SLOWLY STARTS TO EVENTUALLY ACCELERATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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