Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10622595August 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
ON THE HATCH, THE EXTERIOR SWITCH TO OPEN THE HATCH IS COVERED BY A RUBBER SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME (AND APPARENTLY HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS I'VE SPOKEN TO ONLINE), THE RUBBER EVENTUALLY DISSOLVES AND DESTROYS THE SWITCHING MECHANISM, LEADING TO AN INABILITY TO OPEN THE TRUNK/HATCH. THIS HAS POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AS IF THERE WERE A BATTERY FIRE, I'D HAVE NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FIRE OR RETRIEVE ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622179August 14, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS ON HIGHWAY AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IN 2 MINUTES ALL POWER GONE AND I HAVE HAD TO TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID, WATER PUMP FAILED AND BECAUSE OF THAT HYBRID INVERTER FRIED. CAR WAS OUT OF GUARANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ABOUT WATER PUMP. I PAID NEARLY $5.000.00 FOR WATER PUMP AND HYBRID INVERTOR. I HAVE SEEN THERE IS A RECALL ABOUT WATER PUMP NOW. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618627August 4, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT HID HEADLIGHT WENT OFF. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON ALLOWED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT TO COME BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER A SEVERAL WEEK PERIOD. HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION IS SUDDENLY CUT IN HALF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY RECALL ITEM TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617906July 31, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617914July 31, 2014
AIR BAGS
THIS CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.......UPDATED 08/14/14 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616525July 26, 2014
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF GEAR SHIFT CONTROL. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND WASN'T ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. KEPT GOING BACK TO NEUTRAL. PARK ALSO WASN'T WORKING. POWERED CAR OFF WHICH DID PUT IN PARK. RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT ISSUE. TRIED TO RECREATE AT HOME AND SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY HOLD GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE TO MOVE CAR INTO DRIVEWAY. HAVE LEFT CAR AT TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER TODAY FOR INSPECTION. DID NOT OCCUR WHEN TECH TRIED IT DAY AFTER INCIDENT AT 7AM. INITIAL INCIDENT OCCURRED ON HOT AFTERNOON AT 5PM WITH 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. HAVE READ ONLINE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS RELATED TO HOT TEMP. HAVE HAD CAR FOR 5 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. JUST CROSSED 50000 MILES AND AM COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL OCT. I HOPE IT CAN BE REPAIRED. AND HOPE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING AT FASTER SPEEDS. SO FAR ONLY HAPPENS WHEN PARKED AND RECENTLY STARTED. STARTER BATTERY WAS REPLACED AROUND 2 YEARS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616403July 25, 2014
POWER TRAIN
1 - AFTER BEING PARKED THE CAR WILL GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, BUT WHEN YOU LET OFF OF THE BRAKE, IT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. 2 - IF LEFT RUNNING IN PARK, THE CAR WILL GO OUT OF PARK AND GO INTO NEUTRAL. THIS WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO ROLL, IF IT IS NOT ON EXACTLY FLAT LEVEL GROUND. 3 - WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL JUMP OUT OF DRIVE AND GO INTO NEUTRAL. 4 - IN ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, YOU CAN HOLD THE SHIFTER LEVER IN THE DESIRED MODE AND THE CAR WILL DRIVE FINE. 5 - TALKED TO A TOYOTA REPAIR FACILITY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY OF THESE SAME INCIDENTS. 6 - THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT APPARENTLY TOYOTA DON'T WANT TO ADMIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616026July 24, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A LEAKING ABS ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 10/7/14*CN UPDATED 3/25/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614888July 21, 2014
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO LOCK, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611267July 17, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE LATCH HANDLE ON THE HATCHBACK HAS "MELTED" FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. THE HANDLE HAS BECOME GOOEY AND LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS EVERY TIME I OPEN THE HATCHBACK. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE HANDLE IS HARDER TO USE, MAKING IT MORE TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610875July 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED . DRIVERS RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILS MOSTLY, BUT LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILS ABOUT 33% OF THE TIME. I HAVE LOST BOTH HEADLIGHTS AFTER A WHILE AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT! WE HAVE HAD TO STOP DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON PAST 5 MINS. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND AT 60000 MILES I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE SETTLEMENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I HOPE TOYOTA FINDS A REAL FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, OR THE 1000+ DOLLAR FIX WILL BE FOR NOTHING. AT THIS POINT I HAVE LOST FAITH IN TOYOTA AND I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610011July 12, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE LIFTGATE GLASS RELEASE SWITCH COVER HAS TURNED INTO A BLACK BLOB AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO THE TRUNK TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND ANY SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON BOARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY 2007-2008 PRIUS OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608568July 7, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE ITEM IN QUESTION IS A RUBBER PAD, ABOUT 1" X 3", LOCATED FACING DOWN ON A HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TRUNK LID, JUST ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE. IT COVERS A MOMENTARY CONTACT SWITCH. WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE SWITCH, THROUGH THIS RUBBERY PAD, THE COMPUTER CHECKS TO SEE IF THERE'S A KEY IN THE VICINITY. IF THERE IS, THE AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR THE TRUNK IS ACTIVATED AND THE TRUNK OPENS. THE RUBBER PAD DETERIORATION INTERFERES WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE LATCH AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PROACTIVELY IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS THEY HAVE USED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605257June 25, 2014
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ALL THE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS SET OFF AT THE SAME TIME DUE TO THE INVERTER PUMP FAILING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND A SUDDEN DECREASE IN POWER. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE INVERTER PUMP FAILING, WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HER MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605891June 25, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED TWICE ON DRIVER SIDE AND TWICE ON PASSENGER SIDE. WE CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND THEY CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597770June 11, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY HUSBAND WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BY A SUV GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND NOT ONE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY THE IMPACT WAS NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE INSTEAD OF DIRECTLY ON THE DOOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS IMPACTED AND MY HUSBAND HAD TO WAIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PRY OPEN THE DOOR SO HE COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT BEFORE. *TR..UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF UPDATED 8/31/2017*CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10596745June 6, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON MAY 25, 2014, I WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, AND THAT FOLLOWING A CLASS ACTION SUIT, TOYOTA AGREED TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPAIR OF THE FAULTY PARTS, BUT ONLY UP TO 5 YRS/50K MILES. MY PRIUS HAD UNDER 35,000 MILES BUT WAS 9 MONTHS OVER THE AGE WARRANTY. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHARGED $739.19 TO REPLACE TOYOTA'S DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT BULB ALONG WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE MODULE, AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY RELIEF FOR THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AFTER THE VEHICLE BEYOND 5 YEARS. TOYOTA FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ISSUE, WHICH OF COURSE IS AN ISSUE OF SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596391June 5, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AND I COULD NOT READ MILEAGE OR HOW FAST I WAS GOING. EVENTUALLY, CAR SHUTS DOWN IN MOTION. TOOK IT TO KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS, CA. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A DEFECT AND RECALL AND WOULD FIX IT AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO SPEND ABOUT $4000 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THERE ARE FUSES BURNT AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596239June 4, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON THIS DATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 5 NEAR LOS ANGELES MY PRIUS MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STARTED SHUTTING DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FAR LEFT LANE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND THE VSC ICON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ICON BECAME VISIBLE, HOWEVER THE ODOMETER WAS BLANK AND I COULD NOT TELL WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING, THE CAR WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. ONCE I MANAGED TO GET TO THE FAR RIGHT SHOULDER THE CAR MADE A STOP. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A BIG RIG WHICH HAD TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT SIDE IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING MY CAR. IT WASN'T UNTIL THEN THAT I NOTICED THE RED ENGINE LIGHT ICON DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROL PANEL NOT THE ODOMETER. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS WARNING LIGHT BUT AFTER LOOKING AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT CLEARLY STATED THAT ONCE THIS LIGHT APPEARS YOU NEED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS SIGN AND IT APPEARED AFTER THE FACT. THE CAR HAD NO ENGINE OIL, WHICH WAS RIDICULOUS SINCE I HAD NOT NOTICED ANY LEAKS AND I TAKE MY CAR IN EVERY 2 MONTHS TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER HAD NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN IT DID NOT HAVE ANY LEAKS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO VERIFY WHEN THE RED ENGINE OIL CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED ON 5/30/14, MY LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER WAS ON 4/12/14 AND AT THE TIME THEY DID NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL LEAKING. THIS CLEARLY MAKES NO SENSE AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. TOYOTA OWNERS SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS AS THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED THE SENSOR SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A WARNING PRIOR TO THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY FATALITIES BEING IN A HEAVILY POPULATED HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595409June 1, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR NOW AND GOT PULLED OVER LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND GOT A WARNING TICKET FOR HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. WHEN SHE GOT HOME SHE NOTICED IT OUT. SHE STOPPED THE ENGINE THEN RESTARTED AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. HER FRIENDS HAVE TOLD HER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS THAT SHE HAD A LIGHT OUT, BUT EVERY TIME SHE CHECKED IT WAS WORKING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, I LOOKED IT UP ON INTERNET AND SEE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US TOYOTA! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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