Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10383337February 19, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I NOTICED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. WHEN PULLING INTO GARAGE I TURNED LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAD CAME BACK ON. WITH KNOWING THIS I HAVE NOTICED THIS REPEATING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN THE HEADLIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AT THE SAMETIME. WE WERE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE FOR THE HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. SO WE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS OF THE PRIUS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383261February 18, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 PRIUS; HEADLIGHTS GO OFF RANDOMLY, AND CAN BE TURNED BACK ON BY RECYCLING THE OFF-ON SWITCH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MY 15 YEAR OLD SON DRIVING AND HE PANICKED WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE BULBS (EVEN THOUGH THEY STILL WORK) FOR $560, AND THAT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTS FOR $1200. SO, POSSIBLY $1,760 FOR HEADLIGHTS! THIS IS A CRIME, AND I FEEL LIKE TOYOTA AND THEIR DEALER HAVE RAPED ME. I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382744February 15, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS FOR 2008 PRIUS KEEP BURNING OUT, TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BOTTOM PAIR OF LIGHTS LAST YEAR AND PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OFF CERTAIN DAYS. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO FIX IT, THEY WANT ME TO PAY LARGE AMOUNT OF SUM FOR NEW LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382288February 15, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES TWO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, THE ABS RELEASE MOMENTARILY CAUSES A BRIEF SURGE FORWARD ANY TIME THERE IS A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD WHEN BRAKING AND CONSUMER ALSO STATES HE NEARLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN HE ALMOST COULDN'T STOP, EVEN BY PUTTING HIS ENTIRE WEIGHT ON THE VEHICLE. *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO BELIEVED THE PEDALS WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381521February 11, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS ABOUT 20 TO 30 MPH DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD, A SLIGHT DESCENDING GRADE AND COASTING, WHEN IT ACCELERATED WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAPPENED FOR ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS AND A SPEED GAIN OF APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH. IT STARTLED ME, IF A CAR HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM. A LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH BUT IT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I COULD NOT TELL WHICH LIGHT. I CALLED TOYOTA OF LONGVIEW AND WAS TOLD IF IT WAS NOT ACTING UP THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE HAD BAD WEATHER SO I PARKED THE CAR UNTIL WE COULD CARRY IT IN. FEB 9TH, 2011, WE HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I WOULD SELL IT BUT IT WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE GOT IN AN ACCIDENT? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381264February 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE ANTI-SKID LIGHT TURNED ON AND THEN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381259February 9, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GATE OF THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND OFF AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED A SECOND TIME AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED A CASE MANAGER WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE CASE AND RETURN THE CONTACT'S CALL WITHIN 24 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381088February 8, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD DRIVE 35 MPH OR ABOVE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLUCTUATE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THEREFORE, THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF UPATED 1/4/11 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380358January 28, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHAT HAPPENED ON 12/23/10 WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO TURN AROUND IN A SHORT DRIVEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 6 FT LONG, THAT WAS ON A STEEP INCLINE. AS I CAME UP TO THE DRIVEWAY, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE IT OVER TO THE BRAKE. MY FOOT WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND, WHEN THE CAR HIT THE INCLINE, IT SPED UP REALLY FAST. I HAD TO JAM ON MY BRAKES TO KEEP FROM CRASHING INTO A GARAGE DOOR. MY MAIN COMPLAINT, THOUGH, IS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF OVERRIDE SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE 2008 PRIUS SO THAT, WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER CERTAIN POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD -- BUT NOT ALL OF THEM -- AND YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SPEEDS UP TO MOVE YOU OUT OF THE POTHOLE OR OVER THE BUMP. THIS OVERRIDES THE BRAKES SO THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU IF IT WAS STOPPED OR INTO SOMETHING BLOCKING THE ROAD OR A GARAGE DOOR. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, WHETHER YOU ARE GOING DOWN A HILL, AROUND A CURVE OR COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP MOMENTARILY. THERE IS A SQUARE METAL PLATE THAT IS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE TARMAC IN THE ROAD ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM MY HOUSE. THE ROAD IS A CANYON ROAD SO IT IS A HILLSIDE ROAD THAT IS VERY NARROW. EVERY MORNING WHEN I DRIVE TO WORK, I HAVE TO DRIVE OVER THAT PLATE AND, EVERY TIME I DO, MY CAR SPEEDS UP. THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER 2008 PRIUSES THAT FRIENDS HAVE, IT'S NOT JUST MINE. IT IS VERY SCARY AND EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS A 2008 PRIUS KNOWS THAT IT IS A BAD DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP THE OVERRIDE SYSTEM. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379473January 28, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
IN JANUARY 2008, I BOUGHT THE NEW PRIUS 2008. ON JANUARY 11, 2011 I AM DRIVING WITH SPEED 35 MPH AND CAR FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION LOST CONTROL AND HIT MY CAR WITH SPEED 40 MPH HEAD ON COLLISION ON 2/3 OF THE CAR FROM A DRIVER SIDE WERE DAMAGE, THE PRIUS ENGINE SPLIT AND AN HALF. THE CAR WERE TOTAL LOSS..BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I CALLED TOYOTA EXPERIENCE (1-800-331-4331) BUT THEY PROVIDE THEM ALL INFORMATION AND PICTURES AND REQUEST FOR THEM FOR REASON WHY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM TOYOTA AND NO ACTIONS. HAS BEEN TAKEN. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD CHIP 2 OF MY TEETH, LOOSING 4 AND SEVERELY SUFFERED NECK,BACK, SHOULDER,CHEST, RIB, HIP AND KNEE, CUT AND BRUISES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10379272January 27, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 30 MILES PER HOUR AND HIT A PARKED CAR WITH MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE CAR IS POTENTIALLY TOTALED. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10378831January 26, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS PASSENGER SIDE HID XENON HEADLAMP GOING ON AN OFF RANDOMLY. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BULB AND WHEN REPLACING THE BULB THE MECHANIC FOUND OUT THE HEADLAMP CONNECTOR WAS CORRODED. I PAID FOR A NEW BULB AND CONNECTOR. MY PROBLEM IS HOW A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES COULD HAVE CORRODED WIRE CONNECTORS ALREADY. THE BILL WAS $353. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378829January 26, 2011
AIR BAGS
IN 2008, I BOUGHT THE NEW PRIUS 2008. ON JANUARY 11, 2008 I AM DRIVING WITH SPEED 35 MPH AND HEAD-ON CRASH IT BY A CAR FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH SPEED 40MPH HEAD ON COLLISION ON 2/3 OF THE CAR FROM A DRIVER SIDE WERE DAMAGE, THE ENGINE SPLIT AND AN HALF. THE CAR WERE TOTAL LOSS..BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CALL TOYOTA EXPERIENCE (1-800-331-4331) BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD CHIP 2 OF MY TEETH, LOOSING 4 AND SUFFERED NECK,BACK, SHOULDER,AND KNEE, CUT AND BRUISES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10378525January 24, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND YOU HAVE TO TURN LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON FOR IT TO COME BACK ON. THE TIME RANGE ON THE LIGHT GOING OFF VARIES FROM TIME TO TIME. IT CAN HAPPEN AS FAST AS EVERY 2-3 MINUTES. THE BALLAST AND BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377882January 19, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED WITHIN SIXTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378892January 19, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
ON 3 SEPARATE DAYS, 2 DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009 AND 1 DURING THE SUMMER OF 2010, OUR PRIUS TRANSMISSION HAS AUTOMATICALLY AND REPEATEDLY SHIFTED FROM D (DRIVE) TO N (NEUTRAL) WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. ALL INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS (TEMPERATURES NEAR 100) IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUT IN THE SUN AND WITHOUT US HAVING MADE ANY ACCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH THE SHIFTER / DRIVE SELECTOR WHILE DRIVING. THIS CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES AS THE CAR ERRATICALLY SLOWED AS WE ENTERED INTERSECTIONS OR PULLED OUT ONTO BUSY STREETS. OUR INITIAL RESPONSE WAS TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, BUT WHEN THIS HAD NO EFFECT, WE DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAD MOVED FROM D TO N. IT WAS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS ON BUSY STREETS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE DISCOVERED THAT WE COULD KEEP THE CAR MOVING BY CONSTANTLY HOLDING THE SHIFTER / DRIVE SELECTOR LEVER IN THE D POSITION. TURNING OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS THERE WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE IT. THIS GLITCH REMAINS A CONCERN TO US BECAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION IS UNPREDICTABLE AND THEREFORE DANGEROUS, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WE CAN KEEP THE CAR MOVING BY HOLDING THE SHIFTER IN THE D POSITION. BECAUSE THE CAR IS SO COMPUTERIZED, I SUSPECT AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT OF THE DRIVE SYSTEM MAY MALFUNCTION AT HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE MILEAGE NUMBER I GAVE IS AN APPROXIMATION SINCE I DIDN'T RECORD THE ACTUAL MILEAGE WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED, BUT THE DEALER WHO SERVICED THE CAR SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376478January 13, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT PREMATURELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375430January 10, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2008 PRIUS FAILING WITHOUT A KNOWN FIX FROM TOYOTA. EACH BULB COSTS OVER $150.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375418January 10, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 PRIUS HAVE BEGUN TO FAIL. EITHER ONE MAY NOT TURN ON, OR THEY MAY TURN OFF INDIVIDUALLY BY THEMSELVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375504January 10, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THERE WERE NO DISTINGUISHING EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY (FRONT). THEY BOTH NO LONGER WORKED WITHIN A 1 DAY PERIOD AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. NOTICING 2 OR MORE OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL THERE FOR LIGHT REPLACEMENT CAUSED ME TO INQUIRE WHAT CAUSED THEIR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. IN THE MATTER OF MINUTES OF MY CALLING IN, ROUGHLY AN HOUR INTO THE DEALERSHIPS OPENING, I WAS TOLD THE LIGHTS WERE AVAILABLE, BY THE TIME ARRIVED, WITHIN 5 MINUTES, ENOUGH AUTOS HAD ARRIVED ALSO WITH THE "HID" HEADLAMPS OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ENTIRE STOCK OF LIGHTS HAD BEEN USED UP, AND REQUIRED MY HAVING TO RETURN AFTER ANOTHER SHIPMENT OF LIGHTS WERE RECEIVED, AS WELL. I DID NOT REQUEST THE OLD PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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