Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10427108September 25, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITENTLY. SOMETIMES ONE SIDE GOES OUT, FLICKERS OR BOTH GO OUT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES. I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS WORK AGAIN. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT REPLACE THE BULBS AT A BIG COST. I LOOKED ON A BLOG AND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426941September 23, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AROUND OR JUST AFTER 40,000 MILES THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON CORRECTS THE PROBLEM -- BUT THIS IS ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426408September 20, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY ONRAMP IN MY COMPANY'S 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT APPLICATION OF THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE JUST TO HOLD THE CAR AT 65 MPH. THE CAR WAS SURGING AND LUNGING FORWARD, AND I WORRIED I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER BEFORE LOSING CONTROL COMPLETELY. FOR THE NEXT 5-10 MINUTES, AS I APPROACHED TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. AT ONE POINT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS REACHING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 95 MPH. A LOUD RATTLING NOISE ENSUED AND AN ELECTRICAL SMELL FILLED THE CAR. EVENTUALLY, THE BRAKE COMPLETELY FAILED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT, AND, BARRELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 90 MPH, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THIS POINT I HAD MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSED THE PARKING BREAK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH MY LEFT FOOT, THIS SLOWED THE CAR SLIGHTLY, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REGAIN CONTROL. FINALLY, I TURNED THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY, AND WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY, WHERE I COASTED FOR A LONG DISTANCE, SPEEDS DECREASING GRADUALLY UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT STOPPED. SMOKE AND A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL FILLED THE CAR. I FILED A POLICE REPORT WITH AN OFFICER WHO HAPPENED TO ALSO BE ON THE SHOULDER, GIVING SOMEONE A SPEEDING TICKET. MY COMPANY TOWED THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, AND AN INVESTIGATION IS SUPPOSEDLY UNDERWAY, THOUGH I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ANY SORT OF RESOLUTION BASED ON THE TESTIMONIES I HAVE READ FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. LUCKILY, IN MY CASE, THIS DIDN'T RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NOONE WAS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425792September 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN
CAR WILL NOT STAY IN DRIVE AFTER IT HAS BEEN IDLING, IN PARK, ON A HOT DAY. WHEN GETTING BACK IN CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL AFTER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED. CAR GOES A FEW FEET THEN SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL. AFTER PUTTING IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND PRESSING THE PEDAL AGAIN, IT SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY AND RESTART AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. THIS HAS TWICE LEFT ME NOSED OUT INTO A BUSY STREET. I FIRST TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, TOYOTA, ON 9/17/10 . THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT THEM SEVERAL INTERNET ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS WHO REPORTED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS YEAR, WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN WITH THE HOT WEATHER, I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA USA (CASE # ). THEY ALSO SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND INSISTED THAT I MUST HAVE THE PROBLEM DUPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. SO, I RETURNED TO MY DEALERSHIP BUT THIS TIME WITH A DVD COPY OF THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD TAKEN WITH MY MOVIE CAMERA. THIS DVD SHOWS THE ISSUE PERFECTLY. THEY RESPONDED THAT A TOYOTA TECH HAS FOUND AN "UPGRADE" THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE ME FOR $240 LABOR. THEY COMMENTED THAT MY CAR HAD 52,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED SO THEY'RE BEING REALLY NICE IN PROVIDING THE PART "UPGRADE". IT'S ALMOST AS IF THEY'RE SAYING THAT AT 52,000 MILES I SHOULDN'T EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO STAY IN GEAR!?!? I TOLD THEM THAT THE POWER-TRAIN IS WARRENTED FOR 100,000 MILES AND IF THIS ISN'T A POWER-TRAIN ISSUE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. FUTHERMORE, THEY MAY REGARD IT AS AN "UPGRADE" BUT I REGARD IT AS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE A COPY OF THE DVD, CLEARLY SHOWING THE ISSUE, THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420842August 21, 2011
STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY 2008 PRIUS TRUNK HANDLE HAS MELTED. IT IS NOW DIFFICULT TO OPEN, AND IS EXTREMELY MESSY. THIS STARTED IN MAY 2011, JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419383August 14, 2011
STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
RUBBER ON THE 2008 PRIUS IS MELTING AND DRIPPING. I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418291August 9, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
PRIUS TRUNK HANDLE MELTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415354July 27, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413982July 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL NOT STAY IN D WHEN SHIFTING OR R IT POPS BACK INTO N IT DOES IT ON HOT DAYS. NEED TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY. WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE IT BINDS UP AND GOES BACK INTO N WHILE SHIFTING OR DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SO FAR IN THE LAST WEEK. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE LEVER IN R OR D TO GO ANYWHERE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410632July 6, 2011
VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHT BULBS GO OUT AND COME BACK ON SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I AM TOLD BY MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410477July 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ALSO IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE DESIRED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,700. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 09/23/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410370July 4, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING ON AND OFF - 2008 PRIUS W ONLY 28,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411008June 30, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
(TRANSMISSION PROBLEM) IN A HOT SUMMER DAY WHERE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 98 DEGREES, WHILE IN DRIVE, THE GEAR WILL NOT STAY IN DRIVE AND SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GOING THRU AN INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS UNEXPECTED CHANGE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT, IT HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY, BUT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ONLY DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT WOULD NOT STAY IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR GO INTO PARK, IT JUST DEFAULT TO NEUTRAL. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT RUNNING IS BY MANUALLY HOLDING THE GEAR HANDLE TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS CONDITION IF IT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW TO KEEP IT IN DRIVE MANUALLY. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEIR ANSWER WAS THAT THEY HAVE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. I THINK AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE INITIATED ON THIS DEFECT TO AVOID POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE. THERE IS A FORUM ON THE INTERNET WITH OTHER DRIVERS RELATING THEIR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-343977.HTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408945June 26, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, VIN [XXX], BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GO ON AND OFF WHILE IN THE ON POSITION. STARTED NOV. 2010 WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT ON A TRIP OUT OF TOWN. THEN FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NO PROBLEMS. NOW SINCE APRIL 2011 THE DRIVES SIDE HEADLIGHT OCCASIONALLY GOES OFF, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE CONSTANTLY GOES OFF. I WILL TURN ON MY LIGHT TO DRIVE AT NIGH AND THE PASSENGER LIGHT WILL BE ON AT FIRST THEN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IT WILL GO OUT. I CAN GET IT TO COME BACK ON IF I SWITCH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON, THIS TURNS OFF ALL THE LIGHTS MOMENTARILY AND THEN IT WILL COME ON AGAIN FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES, THEN HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REPEAT THE PROCESS OVER AND OVER. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND FOUND FORUMS WHERE THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM ALL BUT TO CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS PRICES TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WILL JUST START ALL OVER. I HAVE GONE TO OUR LOCAL DEALER WHO GAVE US A QUOTE AND SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF. COME ON, THEY ARE SWEEPING IT UNDER THE RUG AND RIPPING OFF PRUIS OWNERS. I CERTAINLY HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMEONE DYING TO GET TOYOTA OR SOMEONE TO REALIZE WHAT A MAJOR PROBLEM THERE IS AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. I DO NOT FEET THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BULB ITSELF, AS THE BULB WORKS, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL, AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS TO ONLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM RETURN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. 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
#10407689June 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO REPLACED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407231June 17, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT GARAGE WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FRAME AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR BODY DAMAGE AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED THAT WAS RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 08/31/11*LJ UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405559June 8, 2011
CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP, CHILD SEAT
SUNSHINE KIDS RADIAN XTSL CARSEAT WITH SUPERLATCH SYSTEM, PURCHASED ON MAY 11, 2011, BECOMES LOOSE AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NORMAL USAGE EVEN THOUGH PROPERLY INSTALLED TO START. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURER'S IN CHINA NOVEMBER 2010, MODEL US19500, SERIAL # 111001985 04329. THE SEAT IS INSTALLED IN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WE ARE UNABLE TO GET A SECURE INSTALLATION USING THE SEATBELT. WHEN INSTALLED USING THE SUPERLATCH SYSTEM, THE SEAT CAN BE MOVED SEVERAL INCHES IN ANY DIRECTION AFTER MY CHILD HAS CLIMBED IN AND OUT OF THE SEAT OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS. THE COMPANY HAS NOT YET RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=TOYOTA, MODEL=PRIUS). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402445May 23, 2011
VISIBILITY
GREEN GLARE ON WINDSHIELD EMANATING FROM SPEEDOMETER PROJECTOR OBSCURING VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. CAR TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR INSPECTION. OUTCOME UNKNOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401830May 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 500 MILES THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR THE 12V BATTERY WAS DEAD. I USED 3 DIFFERENT BATTERIES TO TRY TO START THE CAR. THE LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASH BUT THERE WAS A WARNING MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND NEEDED TO PUT THE CAR ON A LEVEL SURFACE WHICH IT ALREADY WAS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK AND THE MOTOR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR COULD NOT BE MOVED. WHEN A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED THE CAR RESUMED WORKING FINE. IF THE DEAD BATTERY HAD HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE STOPPED ON I81 BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE FAST LANE WITH NO WAY TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400637May 12, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. THE POWER SLOWLY DRAINED OUT OF THE CAR AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP WHERE AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION THEY FOUND THAT A LEAF HAD GOTTEN PAST THE AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM AND WAS BLOCKING THE INTAKE SENSOR SYSTEM. WHEN ONE SENSOR IS BLOCKED THE WHOLE CAR SHUTS DOWN! THIS WAS SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I KNOW IT IS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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