Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10313125February 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLAT HARTFORD, CT STREET AT AROUND 20 MPH AND BEGAN TO BRAKE AS APPROACHED INTERSECTION AT AN AVENUE WITH STOP SIGN. WHEN COMPRESSING BRAKE ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE CAME AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO GO AS IF IT WAS COASTING. WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION--FORTUNATELY IT WAS LATE AND NO TRAFFIC WAS PRESENT. HAPPENED AGAIN AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION, STOPPED BY BUMPING INTO CURB. . THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT THE TIME, IT HAD STARTED SNOWING AND I FIGURED IT MUST BE SOME BLACK ICE. BUT GIVEN ALL THE TOYOTA BRAKE PROBLEMS REPORTED, AND THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT NO ABS SIGNAL EVER CAME UP, AND IT DIDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH ABS WAS "PUMPING" THE BRAKES IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER REPORTS OF PRIUS BRAKE FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313328February 23, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT IN MY CAR, A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS IS WHEN MY CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS OR THE BRAKE. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT MY CAR DROVE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AFTER THE SECOND IMPACT AND CAME TO REST ON THE FRONT CAR'S BUMPER. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR I HIT WAS $1000, THE DAMAGE TO MY PRIUS WAS $7000. TOYOTA HAD CONTACTED ME IN A FORM OF A RECALL ABOUT FLOOR MATS BEING THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA OF ORANGE TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER AND ASSURED ME MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF ANY RECALL. THEY SAID I COULD BRING MY VEHICLE IN HOWEVER NOTHING WOULD BE DONE IF THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE INITIAL CRASH MY PRIUS HAS MIMICKED THIS SAME SITUATION A HANDFUL OF TIMES. NONE OF THE TIMES AFTER RESULTED IN A SECOND CRASH. I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY PRIUS TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED INTO. I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND TOYOTA DOES NOT OFFER LOANER CARS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313345February 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED, THE BRAKES WOULD RELEASE FOR A SECOND. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE ON A BUMPY ROAD AND HE SAW THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGE WHEN THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHENEVER HE HAD TO BRAKE ON A BUMPY SURFACE (1-2 TIMES A MONTH). HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OR CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313438February 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS SERVICE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE BUCKS - DRIVER HESITATED TO DRIVE CAR FEW MILES TO DEALERSHIP. "ABS CODE C1247 STROLESENSOR MALFUNCTION PERFORMED LINEAR INT AND CALIBRATE. IF CONDITION RECURS ABS ECU MAY BE FAULTY" - (9/7/06) "ABS LIGHT COMES ON. CODE #C1247...INTERNAL OPEN CIRCUIT IN SKID CONTROL COMPUTER, REPLACED COMPUTER. - (3/20/07) ABS LIGHT ON. DIAGNOSED BRAKE PEDAL STROKE SENSOR INTERNALLY SHORTED CODE #C1247. REPLACED SENSOR. (4/23/07) . THE PRECEDING WAS TAKEN FROM THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S NOTES ON THEIR SERVICE SHEETS. AFTER THE THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SOLVED -- OBVIOUSLY AN ELECTRONIC PART THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313469February 23, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2005. PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2004. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAVE NOTICED THERE IS A ACCELERATION LAG WHILE MAKING TURN ON RIGHT OR LEFT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS NOT CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION AND FEELS LIKE, CAR MAY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN TURN ON RIGHT OR LEFT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS PROBLEMS TO DEALERS ATTENTION BUT THEY NEVER TOOK MUCH INTEREST. I STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. RECENTLY IN JANUARY OF 2010, STEERING TIE ROD CAME OFF WHILE REMOVING A CAR FROM THE SHOPPING MALL. NO BREAK,IT COMPLETELY CAME OFF WITHOUT HAVING ANY DAMAGE TO TIE ROD THREADS. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG DISASTER. I STILL HAVE A TIE ROD WITH ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313484February 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - SLIPPING BRAKES - MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OVER THE YEARS, ONE TODAY WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AS CAR SLOWED, BRAKES SLIPPED DURING TRANSITION FROM REGENERATIVE TO MECHANICAL. CAR'S NOSE PASSED ABOUT 1 FOOT BEYOND WHITE LINE DEMARCATING INTERSECTION. NO CRASH OR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR OCCUPANTS - THIS TIME. WHY IS TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE RECALL LIMITED TO 2010 YEAR MODEL WHEN THESE EVENTS ARE OCCURRING IN EARLIER YEAR MODELS? I HAVE SUBMITTED TWO REQUESTS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312620February 22, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS FEELS LIKE IT "JUMPS" OR ACCELERATES WHEN I AM BRAKING ON BUMPY ROADS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN, AND ONLY FOR A SECOND. IT HAS HAPPENED RARELY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CARE, BUT IT HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE IN THE PAST 4 YEARS. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS AT ONE INTERSECTION, AND SO I AM ESPECIALLY CAREFUL THERE. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS IMAGINING IT, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED IN ANOTHER PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312665February 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH ON A BUMPY ROAD THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND THE BRAKE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312349February 20, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I WAS PULLING SLOWLY INTO MY REGULAR PARKING SPACE AT WORK, MY 2005 PRIUS SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND SMASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL THAT WAS ABOUT 4 - 6 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WERE CARS PARKED ON EACH SIDE OF ME; I DIDN'T HIT EITHER OF THEM. I WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL AT THE FONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. NO WATER OR ICE OR BAD CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT. THE SURGE WAS MUCH FASTER THAN WOULD HAVE OCCURRED HAD I MISTAKENLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN THE BRAKE. OVER $3300 WORTH OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR. MY ANKLE BONE WAS CHIPPED, MY WRIST WAS SORE, I HAD MINOR WHIPLASH. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS WAS NOT A RESULT OF DRIVER ERROR ON MY PART, NOR DO I THINK IT IS A RESULT OF THE FLOOR MAT CATCHING THE ACCELERATOR. WHAT I EXPERIENCED MATCHES MUCH MORE CLOSELY WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF A FLUKE COMPUTER ERROR CAUSING THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKES. IT WAS A STRONG, FAST AND SUDDEN SURGE; MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN WHAT I EXPERIENCE WHEN I USE THE ACCELERATOR. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA (REFERENCE #200710181201). THEY SENT SOMEONE OUT FROM THE CHICAGO REGIONAL OFFICE TO INSPECT THE CAR IN MINNEAPOLIS. THEY CLAIMED EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND REFUSED TO DO MORE. AFTER I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND MY FEAR ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR, THE LOCAL WALSER TOYOTA DEALER DID ANOTHER VERY THOROUGH CHECK AND RESET ALL OF THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. IT HAS WORKED FINE SINCE. PRIOR TO THIS 2007 INCIDENT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES WHEN THE CAR SEEMED TO SURGE RATHER THAN BRAKE AT STOP SIGNS. NONE CAUSED CRASHES. AND ONCE, ALSO PRIOR TO 2007, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH THAT TIME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10312345February 20, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE PROBLEM IS ENGINE SURGING WHEN I AM BRAKING. THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES SEEM TO SEND POWER TO THE MOTOR THAT THE COMPUTER DOES NOT HANDLE PROPERLY AND THE ENGINE SURGES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO MAKE TURNS OR TO STOP. THE CAR FEELS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RANDOM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2005. THEY SAID THEY HAD RECEIVED NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE SUMMER THAN IN THE WINTER. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY TOYOTA DEALER LAST MONTH AND HE AGAIN SAID THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THAT IT MIGHT BE THE FAULT OF THE ETHANOL IN THE GASOLINE. I THINK IT IS A PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONICS AND THAT THE SHIELD PROTECTING THE ELECTRONICS IS NOT CAPABLE OF PROTECTING AGAINST ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PROBLEMS IN THE AREA OR IN MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312003February 19, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES DIDN'T ENGAGE WHEN I PRESSED ON THEM IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS BEHIND A UTILITY TRUCK WITH A CONCRETE POST HANGING ABOUT 10 FEET OFF THE BACK OF IT (PROPERLY MARKED), AND I GAVE MYSELF ROOM BEHIND THE TRUCK AND WAS AWARE OF THE POLE HANGING OFF OF THE TRUCK. TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING, AND I WAS GOING BETWEEN 5-15MPH, AND THEN THE TRUCK BRAKED AND I BRAKED BUT MY BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND UNTIL THE CONCRETE POLE HAD COME THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD AND ROOF, INCHES FROM MY HEAD. MY ENGINE/FRONT OF CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED BUT MY INSURANCE ADJUSTOR HAS ESTIMATED DAMAGES AT A MINIMUM OF $4,000-$4,500 FOR THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF, NOT INCLUDING POSSIBLE DASH REPLACEMENT FROM THE SHATTERED GLASS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE TO MOVE OFF OF THE ROAD, BUT FAILED TO TURN BACK ON WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO TOYOTA AND AM WAITING FOR A CASE MANAGER TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. I WAS MIRACULOUSLY NOT CUT, MAIMED, OR DECAPITATED, BUT HAVE SUSTAINED SHOULDER, BACK, NECK, AND ARM INJURIES AND AM SEEING A CHIROPRACTOR AND AWAITING X-RAY RESULTS. I ALSO HAVE BRUISING FROM MY KNEE HITTING THE DASH BOARD. MY MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE BASED ON AN OIL CHANGE RECEIPT I FOUND FROM LAST MONTH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10312247February 19, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AS THE 2010 PRIUS WHEN HE ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES BEGAN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY WHENEVER HE WASN'T DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HE HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BUT HE THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND MENTIONED THE BRAKE FAILURE; THE DEALER TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IT WAS A NORMAL FUNCTION FOR THE PRIUS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120, 00 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311613February 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES BEGAN TO NOTICEABLY GRAB THEN RELEASE AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. MY SON WAS DRIVING, SLOWED FOR A STOP LIGHT AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM WHEN THE BRAKES RELEASED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME NO FAULT WAS DETECTED. THREE WEEKS LATER, DRIVING BACK FROM WASHINGTON, THROUGH OREGON, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, THE CAR SLOWED AT FIRST, THEN THE BREAKS LET GO AND MY HUSBAND HAD THE STOMP ON THE PEDAL. HE TURNED OFF THE CAR, FILLED IT WITH GAS, AND WHEN HE TURNED IT BACK ON ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF, SIGNALING BRAKE FAILURE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER IN ROSEBURG, AND THE BRAKE SENSOR HAD FAULTED. BUT THEY TOLD US WE COULD PROBABLY DRIVE BACK TO SACRAMENTO. WE DECIDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED THERE AND NOT RISK DRIVING IT ANY FURTHER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311714February 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 11/5/09 IN MID-AFTERNOON I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 PRIUS NORTH ON CALVERT ST. IN BALTIMORE CITY, JUST ABOVE SARATOGA ST., AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED. AT THE TIME I WAS SPEAKING TO MY BOSS ON MY VERIZON CELL PHONE USING MY BLUETOOTH HEADSET. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE CAR WAS BRAKING AS USUAL SLOWING DOWN NORMALLY UNTIL ABOUT 10 MPH, OR SO, AT WHICH POINT I FELT THE CAR BOUNCE VERY SLIGHTLY AND GENTLY AS IF THERE WAS A SMALL GRADUAL DIP AND RISE IN THE ROADWAY SURFACE. MY FOOT WAS STILL APPLYING LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I INTENDED TO COME TO A NEAR CRAWL AS I NEARED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT AFTER THE SLIGHT BUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL GRADUALLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR PROCEEDED WITHOUT ANY BRAKING IN EFFECT. AFTER THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO A POINT NEAR THE FLOOR I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONCE AND PRESS ON IT AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. AT THIS POINT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BRAKE APPLIED AND THE RR TIRE SQUEALED AS IT APPEARS IT WAS THE ONLY ONE BRAKING. I CONTINUED PRESSING UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AT WHICH POINT I NOTICE THAT SEVERAL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE NOW ON, INCLUDING THE ONES FOR THE BRAKE, THE ABS, AND VSC. I THEN CONTINUED DRIVING SLOWLY HOME, ABOUT 2 MI., BECAUSE IT APPEARED THAT ONLY THE RR BRAKE WAS WORKING AND THAT THERE WAS NOT POWER ASSIST WITH THE BRAKING. WHEN I GOT HOME I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, AND UPON RESTART THE BRAKES APPEARED TO WORK PROPERLY AND SOME OR PERHAPS ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO BILL KIDD TOYOTA IN TIMONIUM, MD ON 11/9/09 AND THEY REPORTED THAT SCAN CODE C1357 WAS PRESENT. THEY REPORTEDLY CONTACTED TOYOTA TECH ASSISTANCE WHO INSTRUCTED THEM TO CLEAR THE SCAN CODES AND PERFORM LINEAR SOLENOID CALIBRATION. THEY ROAD TESTED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. MY BOSS WAS ON THE PHONE WITH ME DURING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT AND HEAR THE RR TIRE SQUEALING AND WE DISCUSS WHAT WAS GOING ON. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311815February 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCES BRAKE FAILURE WHILE BRAKING ON BUMPY PAVEMENT OR ROUGH TERRAIN. THE CAR APPEARS TO LURCH FORWARD FOR ONE OR TWO SECONDS. I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO BAY RIDGE TOYOTA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE HAVING THE CAR SERVICED. THEY REASSURED ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING NORMALLY, AND THIS PHENOMENON WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WITH ABS BRAKES. SINCE I WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL", NO REPAIR WAS OFFERED ME. I HAVE HAD ONE RELATIVELY MINOR CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF THE CAR, BUT FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES. BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I FIRST TOOK DELIVERY OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311829February 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ABOUT MY PRIUS'S BRAKES, BUT IT IS NOT A DUPLICATE COMPLAINT. MY CAR HAS TWO PROBLEMS WITH IT'S BRAKES WHICH SEEM TO ME TO BE UNRELATED. MY PRIUS BRAKES VERY ODDLY WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, OR IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THERE IS APPRECIABLE DEW/CONDENSATION. WHEN GENTLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A CONSTANT PRESSURE, THE CAR DECELERATES SLOWLY, THEN ABRUPTLY TRANSITIONS TO VERY RAPID DECELERATION, AS THOUGH I HAD SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN HARD. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MODULATE THE BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES, THEN SEEMS TO EASE UP AS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AROUND 15 MINUTES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE SOMETIMES DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT OUT OF HAND, AND ONCE ATTEMPTED IN VAIN TO REPLICATE THE DEFECT, UNSUCCESSFULLY. IN ANY EVENT, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD MY BRAKES WERE OPERATING NORMALLY. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE BRAKE FAILURE WHICH OCCURS WHEN BRAKING WHILE RIDING OVER A ROUGH OR UNEVEN SURFACE, WHICH MY VEHICLE ALSO DOES. AT LEAST, I ASSUME THE TWO PROBLEMS ARE UNRELATED. I HAVE FILED A SEPARATE COMPLAINT FORM FOR THAT PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311844February 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR STICKS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. A FEW YEARS AGO, THE ONLY SYMPTOM WAS CLICKING NOISE WHEN LEVER WAS ACTUATED, BUT NOW IT DOES NOT RETURN TO A NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN YOU LET GO. HAPPENS EVERY TIME. CONSEQUENTIALLY, UNLESS YOU CONSCIOUSLY RETURN THE LEVER TO CENTRAL POSITION, PRESSING PARK DOES NOT TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. IF INATTENTIVE OR A UNFAMILIAR DRIVER OPERATES CAR, IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE NOVEMBER 2 TO CONVINCE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD REPAIR, IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM, AND BEGAN EVEN BEFORE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO LUCK. DEALER HAS OFFERED A 15% DISCOUNT FROM A $575 REPAIR AND HAS ALREADY CHARGED ME $45 TO "DIAGNOSE". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311432February 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN MARCH OF '09 I DROVE MY CAR TO A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR 10 MINUTES OR SO LATER, I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE BY PUSHING ON THE START BUTTON. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD DISPLAY LIGHTED UP, INCLUDING ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN TO TURN OFF. I AM NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE ACTUALLY CAME ON. I ALSO WASN'T ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR.. AT SOME POINT, ALL THE DISPLAY LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE GEAR SHIFT BOX, STARTED FLASHING.. AFTER TRYING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I CALLED MY TOYOTA I10 DEALER IN INDIO, CA WHO SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. WHILE TALKING TO HIM I KEPT PUSHING BUTTONS AND FINALLY, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WORKED FROM THAT POINT ON. I WAS NOT TOLD BY THE TOYOTA TECHNICIAN TO BRING THE CAR IN AND I DIDN'T. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED ON 4/3/09 THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR, ALL OF THE ABOVE HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT I BELIEVE I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. I CALLED AAA, THEY JUMPED MY 12V BATTERY , AND I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER. THEY RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND SAID THAT THE BATTERY TESTED HIGH AFTER THE RECHARGING. THAT BATTERY DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACED UNTIL 10/22/09. I HAVE ANOTHER COMPLAINT WHICH MAY OR MY NOT BE CONNECTED TO THIS COMPLAINT,. ON APPROXIMATELY 1/6/10 WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE LIGHTS DISPLAYING MY SPEED AND FUEL GAUGE WENT OUT. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A BLOWN FUSE SO HAD THAT CHECKED. THE FUSE HAD NOT BEEN BLOWN. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK OR SO BEFORE CALLING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE NEXT DAY. ON THAT DAY, 1/20/10 I CALLED I DRIVE MY CAR TO DO SEVERAL ERRANDS, ONE OF WHICH WAS QUITE NEAR THE AREA WHEN I FIRST HAD THE TROUBLE WITH THE CAR STARTING. IN THIS CASE, AS I WAS LEAVING THE AREA, MY DISPLAY LIGHTS CAME ON AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THEM SINCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311410February 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THERE WERE THREE ONE-CAR CRASHES IN MY 2005 PRIUS, THE FIRST ON 1 MAY 2007, THE SECOND ON 16 NOV 2009, AND THE THIRD ON 1 DEC 2009. ALL WERE IN FORSYTH COUNTY, NC. THE FIRST WAS AN INEXPLICABLE CRASH INTO THE EXIT GATE FROM MY COMMUNITY; THE SECOND AND THIRD CRASHES WERE SUDDEN, UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATIONS INTO BRICK WALLS WHILE TRYING TO PARK THE CAR IN DESIGNATED, MARKED PARKING SPACES. THE FIRST CRASH CAUSED PERSONAL INJURY AND WAS REPORTED TO THE LOCAL POLICE. THE SECOND AND THIRD CRASHES WERE NOT. ALL THREE CRASHES CAUSED SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE DAMAGE. I BECAME AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY LONGER, AND SO I TRADED IT IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER ON 1 DEC 2009 FOR A NEW 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE LIABILITY CLAIM DEPT OF TOYOTA, ASKING FOR COMPENSATION, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY, AS OF THIS DATE (17FEB10). THE DATA BELOW REFERS TO THE FIRST CRASH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10311475February 17, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK CONTAINED NO FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE AND INDICATION SENSORS WERE RESET. THERE WAS ALSO A RECOMMENDATION TO TO FILL CAR WITH GAS THE GAUGE DISPLAYED THREE BARS. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FUEL GAUGE READING WAS INACCURATE. THE FUEL LEVEL DISPLAYED THREE BARS LEVEL AND ABRUPTLY THE GAUGE DISPLAYED "FULL". THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,313. UPDATED 3/30/2010 UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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