Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10375104January 7, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT SUDDENLY, FLICKERED BACK, AND THEN WENT OUT PERMANENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374995January 6, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE COMPLAINT IS FOR THE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM ON A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT INITIALLY FAILED RANDOMLY AND EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WHERE THE HEADLIGHT WOULD FAIL. THE ONLY WAY THE LIGHT WOULD TURN BACK ON WOULD BE TO CYCLE THE POWER TO THE HEADLIGHTS. MORE RECENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS NOW OCCURRING WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE CAR NOW HAS 88K MILES AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS BAD. I HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374750January 5, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. PM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374004January 3, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK BUT ONE OR BOTH OF THE REGULAR HIT LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINE APPROX. 30,000 MILES (THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT 61000 MILES). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372434December 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 TOURING MODEL WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON CAR ISSUE STARTED AFTER AROUND 30,000 MILES. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT SPORADICALLY SHUTS OFF. I AM ABLE TO TURN LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WILL WORK AGAIN HOWEVER THIS HAPPENS IN A 30 MIN DRIVE AS OFTEN AS ABOUT 15 TIMES AND SEEMS TO GET MORE FREQUENT THE LONGER THE DRIVE. I RIDE WITH MYSELF MY HUSBAND AND 3 KIDS AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN MY CAR. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS THE LIGHT ITSELF BECAUSE I AM ABLE TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. IF IT WAS THE LIGHT IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371764December 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE DARK. AS I WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO THE FRY. RAMP MY LIGHTS WENT OUT! I COULDN'T TURN AROUND SO I TRIED TO GUESS WHERE I WAS BY THE TAILLIGHTS ON THE FRY. THEN THEY CAME BACK ON. THIS CONTINUED , ON-OFF FOR TEN MILES. TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT THAT DAY. CHG. $556.59. CAR HAS 27,554 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372750December 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, THE CAR SOMETIMES GOES INTO "ANTI-SKID" MODE, LEADING TO A BRIEF DISCONCERTING PERIOD OF LURCHING/ACCELERATION/LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY BEFORE THE CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY THE YELLOW ANTI - SKID ICON INDICATOR ON THE DASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371790December 20, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SUSPENSION
I WAS LEAVING THE AIRPORT AND BEGINNING TO PICK UP SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH) WHEN I HAD A VERY SCARY INCIDENT WITH MY 2008 PRIUS. IT SUDDENLY FISHTAILED TO THE LEFT, SEVERAL SECONDS LATER FISHTAILED TO THE RIGHT, AND AS IT YET AGAIN BEGAN TO FISHTAIL TO THE LEFT, I JAMMED ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND IT CORRECTED. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE TO MY RIGHT OR BEHIND ME AND THE TAXI ON MY LEFT MANAGED TO AVOID ME. I KNEW THAT I WOULD NEVER FEEL SAFE IN MY PRIUS AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA REGIONAL MANAGER WHO SAID TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I THEN SPENT THE NEXT TWO DAYS READING COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE PRIUS. IT IS CHILLING TO READ HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE PATTERNS THAT EMERGE IN THE REPORTING. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED OVER THE COMPLAINT THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP AND SAID, "I NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE." I TOLD HIM HE ONLY HAD TO GO TO THE INTERNET TO SEE HOW SIMILAR CASES WITH THE PRIUS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED. HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I FIND THERE. I TRIED MY BEST TO GIVE HIM A THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEM BUT HE DIDN'T SEEM MUCH INTERESTED IN GETTING A FIX ON WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. HE ASKED IF I HAD GONE OVER A BUMP. "NO," I REPLIED, "BUT WHY DO YOU ASK?" HE SAID THAT GOING OVER A BUMP CAN TRIGGER A SENSOR IN THE WHEEL THAT SETS IN MOTION A SERIES OF RESPONSES. "AND GOING OVER A BUMP ISN'T A PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA?", I ASKED. HE DIDN'T RESPOND AND ONLY SAID THAT THEY WILL LOOK THE CAR OVER. FROM READING THE DOCUMENTED REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE FINDINGS WOULD BE. "WE DON'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR," HE TOLD ME. "BUT YOU DO AGREE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG, DON'T YOU?", I ASKED. HE IMMEDIATELY HUSTLED ME OUT OF THE AREA. I KNEW THAT I COULD NEVER SELL MY CAR TO ANOTHER PERSON IN GOOD FAITH, BUT I SOLD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT A BIG LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371812December 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLAMPS BEGAN TO RANDOMLY TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN AT AROUND 34K MILES. DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE; ONE OR THE OTHER. PAID FOR AND REPLACED BOTH HID LAMPS, BUT NOT CONTROLLER COMPUTER. AT 42K MILES, PROBLEM RETURNS. ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS BLINKED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TURNING HEADLIGHT CONTROLS OFF, THEN ON AGAIN RESOLVES THE PROBLEM UNTIL PROBLEM RECURS. LIGHTS MAY STAY ON FOR DURATION OF TRIP, OR TURN OFF AGAIN AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371861December 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH APPROX. 60,000 MILES ON IT. RIGHT (PASSENGER) HID HEADLAMP TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. REPLACING WITH A NEW BULB DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA WILL NOT LOOK AT THE CAR EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A RECORD OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLAMP IS TURNING ON AND OFF AS WELL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR EVEN DURING THE DAY WHILE IT IS RAINING, ETC... WAS DRIVING HOME IN THE RAIN LAST NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLAMPS TURNED OFF. EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IRRESPONSIBLE FOR TOYOTA TO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371570December 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT RIGHT HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. CANNOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY AT NIGHT. KNOWN DEFECT BY MANUFACTURER ON 2004-2008 PRIUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371291December 12, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT FRONT HID HEADLAMP FLICKERED AND THEN WENT OUT. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON QUICKLY, RESTORING THE HEADLIGHT. IT REPEATED ITSELF REPEATEDLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT THE OUTRAGEOUS COST OF $469.80. THAT PRICE INCLUDED REPLACING BOTH HEADLIGHTS, AS I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF HAVING THE OTHER ONE FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER. IT IS CLEAR FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THAT TOYOTA IS GOUGING THE PUBLIC ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE HEADLIGHTS AND ALSO REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE PUT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT ON THE ROAD. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY RECALL ITEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369487December 7, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AT 39,000 MILES MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS FAILED. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT AND THEY JUST GO OUT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY CAME BACK ON ENOUGH TO DRIVE HOME. I TOOK IT TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THE BULBS NEEDED REPLACED FOR 400 DOLLARS. I ASKED THEM WHY AND THEY SAID WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THESE LIGHTS WERE SUPPOSED TO LAST MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL LIGHTS BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT WAY. THEY NEVER WORKED RIGHT AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO SEE ANY DISTANCE AT ALL AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GO OUT. MAKES ONE AFRAID TO DRIVE AFTER DARK NOT KNOWING NOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 400 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369243December 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OFF, THEN AFTER TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON, THEY ARE GOOD FOR A WHILE ONCE AGAIN. THIS IS HAPPENING TO BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. I UNDERSTAND THE BULBS ARE $150 EACH PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE. I ONLY HAVE 40,000 MILES ON MY PRIUS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368985December 2, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEAD LIGHTS COME ON FOR A SECOND OR 2 THEN TURN OFF. TURNING THEM ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY SOMETIMES THEY WILL STAY ON FOR UP TO 1 MINUTE THEN TURN OFF. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD US CAR CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. REPORTED PROBLEM 12/2/2010.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368458November 30, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AT APPROXIMATELY 37,000 MILES MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT, WHICH IS AN HID BULB, STARTED TO FLICKER AND TURN OFF. MOST THE TIME IT WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR. IF THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IT WOULD WORK AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES LATER I NOTICED A NEW SYMPTOM WHERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY, THIS WOULD HAPPEN RARELY. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS MY BULBS(WHICH WHEN I WAS SOLD THE VEHICLE WAS TOLD WOULD LAST 100K MILES) AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THEM. I EXPLAINED THAT IF BOTH BULBS ARE TURNING OFF AT THE SAME TIME HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY BE THE BULBS ESPECIALLY IF IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. THEY INSISTED THAT IT WAS THE BULBS. I REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM UNTIL FURTHER RESEARCHING AND SINCE THEN I'VE FOUND MANY SIMILAR CASES. MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF VERY EARLY BULB FAILURE AND ISSUES WITH BALLASTS THAT REQUIRE REPLACING. TODAY I HAVE 42K MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND AT THE DRIVERS SIDE BULB FAILS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR, AND BOTH BULBS FAIL ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. FOR BULBS THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, 40,000 MILES SEEMS RATHER SHORT LIVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367452November 18, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HEADLIGHT GOES ON, THEN GOES OFF. WON'T STAY ON. I WAS INFORMED THE OTHER ONE COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME, SO I SHOULD REPLACE BOTH, AT GREAT EXPENSE. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE HID HEADLIGHTS WERE COVERED UNDER THE REGULAR WARRANTY, BUT NOT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. BULBS (ESPECAILLY THOSE COSTING $300) SHOULD NOT BURN OUT OR RANDOMLY FLICKER ON A TWO YEAR OLD VEHICLE. TO PREVENT FUTURE/ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WAS WORKING. THIS IS A DEFINITLELY SAFETY ISSUE...I CHECK BULBS REGULARLY, AND ALL ARE WORKING WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON. OBVIOUSLY, I CAN'T CHECK WHILE I'M IN MOTION - WHICH IS WHEN THEY FLASH OFF - AND WAS FORTUNATE THAT BOTH BULBS DIDN'T BURN OUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH, INJURY OR ACCIDENT (OR WORSE) THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIABLE FOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365946November 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366301November 15, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FAILURE. DRIVER SIDE INTERMITTENT FAILURE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON 11/15/2010 PASSENGER SIDE ALSO FAILED AT 7:15 PM LEAVING US WITH NO OPERATING HEADLIGHTS ON A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD. HAD TO RETURN BACK TO HOUSE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS, LUCKILLY ONLY 5 MINUTES INTO OUR TRIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365547November 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT DEFECT. THE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. AT TIMES IT WOULD BEGIN WORKING BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD COME ON WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING AND AT TIMES IT WOULDN'T COME BACK ON AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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