Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10566949March 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE DASH LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DOESN'T REALLY SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL UNTIL YOU REALIZE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU'RE DRIVING, DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE - NOT TO MENTION, IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG WITH THE CAR WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING THE WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. ALSO WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR DOESN'T TURN OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566827March 3, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLAMPS ON THIS VEHICLE WERE PART OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT SEVERAL YEARS AGO ALLEGING THE LAMPS FAILED PREMATURELY. TOYOTA SETTLED THE SUIT BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE BOTH HEADLAMPS REPLACED RIGHT AT 50,000 AS ONE HAD GONE OUT AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE OTHER STARTED GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IT CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AT THE TIME. ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2014 I HAD ANOTHER HEADLAMP GO OUT WHILE ON A DARK STRETCH OF RURAL HIGHWAY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET HOME, BUT WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE LAMP REPLACED AT SIGNIFICANT COST ($247.38) THE NEXT DAY. THIS HEADLAMP LASTED APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ITEM WHICH I FEEL IS CREATING A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN A DARK AREA AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THAT MADE THE ISSUE QUITE OBVIOUS, DRIVERS IN A MORE URBAN ENVIRONMENT WOULD HAVE EASILY NEVER NOTICED. EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DID NOTICE MOST DRIVERS WOULD BE UNAWARE OF THE PROCLIVITY FOR THESE LAMPS TO FAIL AND THE IMMINENT DANGER THEY ARE IN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A SINGLE LAMP WITH THESE PARTICULAR LAMPS. UNFORTUNATELY HEADLAMPS HAVE BEEN SUCH A RELIABLE PART THAT MOST DRIVERS WILL FEEL IT'S A ONCE IN A BLUE MOON EVENT AND THERE IS NO URGENCY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. IT APPEARS THAT WHILE THEY SAID AS PART OF THE SUIT SETTLEMENT THAT THEY HAD RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH THE LAMPS FAILING PREMATURELY THEY QUITE CLEARLY HAVE NOT. THEY ARE MOST DEFINITELY PUTTING DRIVERS IN DANGER. IT IS MY HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566618March 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS JUST WENT OUT. I HAD THE SAME EXACT HEADLIGHT REPLACED ONLY ONE YEAR AGO. A FEW DAYS LATER, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WOULD FLICKER AND THEN JUST GO OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. IF I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING THEY SOMETIMES COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR FOR THEM TO COME BACK ON. THIS ISSUE IS NOT SAFE! PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565988February 26, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF SUDDENLY. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT AND SOME TIME RIGHT HEAD LIGHT.THE HEAD LIGHT COMES BACK ON AFTER TURNING OFF AND ON. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHT WENT OUT AT NIGHT. MECHANIC FIND NO PROBLEM. HWEVER, THE HEAD LIGHT CUTS OFF SUDDENLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565718February 24, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION. THEY TURN OFF RANDOMLY, AND YOU MUCH SWITCH THEM ON AND OFF AGAIN TO GET THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK. THEY AT TIMES MALFUNCTION AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT BULB IS ASTRONOMICAL AT APPROX. $200 PER BULB. MALFUNCTION CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, EVEN AFTER BULB REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564473February 15, 2014
POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE:BODY
ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WILL POP OUT OF D OR WILL HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING INTO D. THIS DAY I PARKED, LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING (ON) SINCE IT WAS COLD IN BOSTON AND MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. EXISTED THE CAR, RETRIEVED A PACKAGE I WAS DELIVERING FROM THE BACK SEAT AND LEFT. ABOUT 5 MIN LATER, MY WIFE SAID THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE FEELS THE CAR MOVING FORWARD AND BEFORE SHE CAN STOP IT THE CAR CRASHED INTO A TRUCK WITH A VERY LARGE TOW HITCH ASSEMBLY. THE CRASH NAILED MY FRONT HOOD VIRTUALLY DEAD CENTER. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE BUT SEEMS FROM OTHER ONLINE COMMENTS THAT THIS IS NOT UNKNOWN ABOUT GEAR DIFFICULTY ALTHOUGH POPPING OUT OF P SEEMS LIKE A NEW ADD-ON OR MAYBE FEW OF US EVER LEAVE A CAR RUNNING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564334February 14, 2014
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER OF 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN DRIVER WAS STRUCK ON LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, HIT BLACK ICE AND STRUCK A CURB THEN A TREE. AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND DRIVER COLLIDED WITH AIRBAG AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT KEEP DRIVER IN PLACE AND DRIVER STRUCK THE TOP OF HIS HEAD ON THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10564026February 12, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WAS DRIVING TO NOVA SCOTIA 10/18/13. STOPPED FOR COFFEE AFTER 2 HRS OF DRIVING. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. RETURNING TO MAINE10/20/2013 WAS PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK WITH ANOTHER TRAILER TRUCK PASSING BEHIND ME AS WELL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AT ANY TIME DURING THE TRIP. SUDDENLY,ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AND THE CAR STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH. TRIED NOT TO SLOW TOO QUICKLY WITH TRUCK BEARING DOWN BEHIND ME ,BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE EITHER. CAR HAD POPPED INTO NEUTRAL . GOT OFF ON LEFT OF TWO LANE HIGHWAY .CAR WAS DEAD. WOULD NOT START. HAD TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER IN AMHERST. DIAGNOSTICS FOUND NO CAUSE. HAD TO DRIVE 4 HOURS BACK HOME NEXT DAY NOT KNOWING IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER 45 MILES FROM MY HOME IN US. THE FOLLOWING WEEK .NO CAUSE FOUND. HAPPENED AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER ON MAIN STREET, BLOCKING TRAFFIC . TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC. WAS THERE ONE WEEK. UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. TOWED 45 MILES TO TOYOTA AGAIN. THERE ANOTHER WEEK. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY. SHORTLY AFTER, THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL AS A WARNING SYMBOL ON THE TOUCH SCREEN MEANING 'MALFUNCTION IN HYBRID SYSTEM.' TOWED AGAIN TO TOYOTA DEALER. FRONT BATTERY REPLACED. NOTED TODAY THAT PRIUS RECALL ON '09-'14 MODELS FOR EXACT SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO MY '08 MODEL. TOTAL COST $600.00 PLUS $270.00 TOWING AND $120.00 FOR HOTEL . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563801February 10, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
MY BROTHER WAS KILLED IN A CAR WRECK ON 1/14/2014 AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ARTICLE OF WHAT HAPPENED. NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF DURING THIS WRECK. THERE IS VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THE SEVERITY OF THE WRECK. 54-YEAR-OLD [XXX] WAS KILLED IN A THREE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON I-75 TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 14, 2014. [XXX] I-75 ACCIDENT.ACCORDING TO GEORGIA STATE PATROL, TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED IN THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF I-75, NEAR EXIT 64, FOR AN EARLIER ACCIDENT. [XXX], OF ORLANDO, WAS EITHER SLOWING OR STOPPED IN HIS TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE INSIDE LANE WHEN A GMC ENVOY CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF [XXX] PRIUS, FORCING IT INTO A STOPPED SEMI-TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE LANE. TRAGICALLY, [XXX] PERISHED FROM HIS INJURIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10563497February 8, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALTHOUGH THE INVESTIGATION OF HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 2006-09 ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS WAS CLOSED IN 2009, I WANTED TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO YOUR FILE. I JUST PAID TO REPLACE MY DRIVERS' SIDE HEADLIGHT FOR THE THIRD TIME. IT WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, COMPED A SECOND TIME BY THE DEALER AND NOW I HAD TO PAY $1,022.24 TO REPLACE IT AFTER THE COMPANY REFUSED TO. THERE IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THIS HEADLIGHT AND THE COST OF REPLACING IT IS OBSCENE, MAKING IT A SAFETY THREAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563395February 7, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AT APPROX. 70 MPH AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. I THEN SLOWED DOWN AND SHUT THE HEADLIGHTS OFF MANUALLY AND THEN TURNED THEM BACK ON. BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON AND WORKED PROPERLY. WITHIN THAT WEEK I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SHOP AND HAD HIM REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT A CRAZY COST. THINKING THAT THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, I HAVE HAD ONE OTHER TIME THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BUT HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE ONE HEAD LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE AUTHORITIES AT LEAST TWICE BY HAVING THE HEADLIGHT OUT. IN ORDER TO FIX THE LIGHTS I HAVE TO SHUT THEM OFF AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, MY LIFE, MY FAMILY MEMBERS LIFE, AND POSSIBLE OTHER LIVES ARE AT RISK!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563215February 6, 2014
EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE
TOYOTA PRIUS (2008) HATCH RELEASE RUBBER COVER PIECE DETACHED AND TORE APART. NOTE THAT MY RX300 SELECTION OF MAKE/PART NUMBER IS BOGUS, AS I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHO MADE THIS RUBBER COMPONENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563052February 3, 2014
AIR BAGS
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO NEED TO KEEP SENDING RECALL LETTERS, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER 2011. THE CONSUMER STATED HE STRUCK THE CENTER GUARDRAIL, DURING A WINTER STORM. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10563054January 31, 2014
STEERING, SUSPENSION
CPCS:I1410421A. 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA HAS NOT ALLOWED ANY WAY TO ADJUST THE REAR TOE OR CAMBER ON THE PRIUS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN STEERING ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EXCESSIVE OR UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561716January 27, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. USUALLY COME BACK ON WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, THEN ON. MAY HAPPEN REPEATEDLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561207January 23, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES OVER AN UNEVEN, BUMPY, OR SLICK SURFACE, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGES. WHEN IT ENGAGES THE CAR NO LONGER SLOWS DOWN, IT IS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY GONE FOR 1-2 SECONDS UNTIL THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE INCIDENTS OF ALMOST HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS A COMPANY VEHICLE AND NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED UNTIL TODAY. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SYSTEM DISENGAGED THE BRAKES AND I ENDED UP REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561059January 22, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LIGHTS JUST TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES. ONE WILL GO OUT, THEN THE OTHER. MANY TIMES BOTH WILL GO OUT AT HE SAME TIME IT IS REALLY SCARY. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT STILL HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560612January 20, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING DOWN 4 LANE, UNDIVIDED HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT DARK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559309January 10, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR HATCH SWITCH MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $290.62. THIS IS A TOYOTA PROBLEM WHICH THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558923January 7, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEAD LIGHTS WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. I'VE HAD TO CLICK THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING AND IS QUITE SCARY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. SINCE I WORK UNTIL 10:00PM EVERY NIGHT, I AM CONSTANTLY DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN STOPPED BY OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ISSUED A WARNING FOR HAVING A HEADLIGHT OUT. I HAVE BEEN TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $350.00 PER HEADLIGHT TO REPLACE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN RESEARCHING AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT INVOLVING THIS MODEL, BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T THE NHTSA NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THIS ONGOING DEFECT? WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS QUITE SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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