Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10359234October 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAD A PROBLEM AROUND MAY 2009 WITH IT'S HID HEADLAMP - THE HEADLAMP WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR - TOYOTA REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLAMP. SAME PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING WITH THE DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLAMP - LIGHT TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING THE PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359100October 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND A SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AS THE REAR TIRES CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WHEEL STOPPER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,080. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 02/23/11
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358611October 1, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAD A BLOWOUT ON I-75 IN LEXINGTON KY. WENT TO WALMART TO GET TIRES. WHEN I GOT TO CHARLOTTE NC I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY REMAINING BACK TWO TIRES CHECKED. HE SAID THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 2008 PRIUS. THE TIRE INFORMATION IS 15" P185/65R15. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358496September 30, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHETHER DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR WHILE IT WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,743.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358329September 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN FEB. 2008. IT HAS THE XENON HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS. IN OCT. 2009, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BULB AND COMPUTER SUB-ASSY ALL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID GOOD THING UNDER WARRANTY AS BULB ALONE COST $300 (I WAS SHOCKED). DEALER SAID BULB SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT THAT QUICK (I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE HAVE A BULB GO OUT THAT QUICK. MY MOM HAS A TAHOE THAT IS 10 YRS OLD, LEAVES LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING AND HAS NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB). THEY REPLACED COMPUTER SUB-ASSY AS WELL TO BE SAFE. WEEKEND OF SEPT 17, 2010, PASSENGER LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND WOULD BE OUT SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES NOT. I TOOK TO DEALER ON 9/27/10 AND HAD TO HAVE THAT BULB REPLACED. CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 7,000 MILES SO IT COST ME $216. THANKFULLY THE PRICE OF THE BULBS HAD DROPPED FROM $300 TO $150, THOUGH COST STILL RIDICULOUS. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE COMPUTER PART THIS TIME AS THEY DID IN OCT. 2009. I GOT ON WEB AND NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. HEADLIGHT BULBS GOING OUT IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. I CALLED TOYOTA, AND OF COURSE WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DUE SINCE CAR OUT OF WARRANTY. SAID TO HOLD ONTO PAPERWORK IN CASE THERE WAS A RECALL. DECIDED TO FILE COMPLAINT IN HOPES GOV'T WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE THAT IS A PROBLEM WITH A SIZABLE NUMBER OF PRIUS OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358341September 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL FAIL. UPON TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON USING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL HANDLE, THE LIGHT(S) WILL COME BACK ON. THE ISSUE BEGAN IN LATE 2009 AND HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS USED AT NIGHT. IT IS USUALLY LIMITED TO ONE HEADLIGHT OR THE OTHER AND FAILURE OF BOTH LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME HAS ONLY BEEN SEEN ONCE. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT HAS STATED TO MYSELF (AND OTHER OWNERS) THAT THE ISSUE IS "PREMATURE FAILURE" OF THE HID (HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE) HEADLIGHTS INSTALLED ON 2006 - 2008 MODEL PRIUSES. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ARE OFFERING "DISCOUNTED" LIGHTS FOR ONLY $150 EACH, WITH NO DISCOUNT OFFERED FOR THE LABOR-INTENSIVE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE LAMPS, WHICH REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY OTHER TYPE OF BULB (SUCH AS THE HALOGEN BULBS THAT ARE STANDARD ON THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS), SO OWNERS ARE FORCED TO PAY TOYOTA AN INCREDIBLY HIGH FEE (EVEN AFTER THE DISCOUNT) TO GET THEIR CARS SAFELY BACK ON THE ROAD. I HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE RESOLVED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED AND DOCUMENTED BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS ON THE PRIUSCHAT.COM FORUM AND HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS MORE ON OTHER WEBSITES. PREVIOUS NHTSA INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN AS MANY AS 100,000 VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE ISSUE IS APPARENTLY RESOLVED IN 2009 AND LATER MODELS BECAUSE THE HID LAMPS WERE REPLACED WITH HALOGEN, BUT THE DANGER OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON EARLIER MODELS WILL REMAIN HIGH UNTIL TOYOTA MAKES THE EARLIER MODELS COMPATIBLE WITH MORE RELIABLE HEADLIGHTS. ALL OF THIS ASSUMES TOYOTA IS BEING FORTHRIGHT IN THEIR CLAIM THAT THE HID BULBS ARE THE CULPRIT. IF THERE IS A BIGGER ISSUE, CONSUMERS SHOULD OBVIOUSLY BE MADE AWARE OF THAT, AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358183September 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT, TURN OFF THEN ON LITE COMES ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. NOW RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS GOING OUT, WITH BOTH LIGHTS GOING OFF @ NIGHT I HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. THESE ARE THE HID HEADLIGHTS WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE,($300 TO $500). CHECKING ON LINE IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS BECOMING A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357938September 27, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 PRIUS DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE LIGHT STILL WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357705September 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS TURNED OFF SUDDENLY WHILE WE ARE DRIVING AFTER DARK ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. WE HAD TO TURN ON OUR FOG LIGHT TO GET HOME THIS IS DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET, THIS HEADLIGHT FAILURE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES TO YOUR AGENCY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357724September 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DURING NORMAL DRIVING, DRIVER'S SIDE (HID) HEADLIGHT BEGIN FAILING AFTER A FEW MINUTES EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. AFTER A FEW DAYS, BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FAIL AFTER INITIALLY TURNING ON. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON RETURNS THEM TO OPERATION, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY FAIL AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357416September 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PRIUS STARTS WHEN THE POWER BUTTON IS PUSHED. THERE IS NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND SINCE THE DASH BOARD IS DIGITAL THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN OR WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. CAR DRIVES WITHOUT AN OPERATIONAL DASHBOARD WHICH THE DEALER DOES NOT RECOMMEND. CAR IS UNDER 2000 MILE WARRANTY. DEALER UNWILLING TO REPAIR COMBINATION METER WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON PRIUS CHAT. COST $1600. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357176September 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1. IN THE K-MART LEVEL PARKING LOT WHEN STARTING TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SHOT FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET. NOTE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS NEVER HAD A FLOOR MAT. 2. BRAKES WERE TESTED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PREOWNED CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. 3. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED FOUR OTHER TIMES, THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH WAS ON THE WAY TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TOYOTA GAS PEDAL RECALL WORK WAS DONE. AFTER THE GAS PEDAL RECALL SERVICE WAS COMPLETED THE SERVICE MANAGER ROAD TESTED THE CAR AND THEN HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE OKAY AND TOLD ME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FELT LIKE IN A HYBRID, ALTHOUGH I HAD OWNED THREE OTHER CARS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356299September 18, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 68 MPH, I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO PASS A SEMI. WHILE THE CRUISE WAS ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED AND I WAS ABLE TO PASS THE TRUCK NOT HAVING TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 73. SHORTLY AFTER, I BECAME AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS UNABLE DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BY BRAKING ONCE NORMALLY AND BRAKING ONCE HARD....THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED. SPEEDS WERE IN EXCESS OF 93+ AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION BY DISENGAGING THE CRUISE AT THE SWITCH. BRAKING SHOULD ALWAYS DISENGAGE CRUISE AND SHOULD HAVE SLOWED THE VEHICLE. IT DID NEITHER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON AN OPEN FREEWAY....WITH ONLY WEATHER ISSUES....BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS OR FATAL SHOULD TRAFFIC HAD BEEN STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355934September 16, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ANY TIME I GO OVER A BUMP/POTHOLE, WHILE TURNING, RESULTS IN A FLOATING SENSATION, SURGE FORWARD, AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT 2 WEEKS AGO AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SERVICED MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY AND THEY CLAIM THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM IS WORKING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. THERE IS DEFINITELY A FATAL FLAW IN THIS SYSTEM AND LIKELY A CHIP ISSUE. TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356027September 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT FOR THE TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER 21,000 THE LEFT BULB STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN GOES OUT. CAN BE RESTARTED BY TURNING SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITH NO NOTICE. COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD. DEALER WANTS ANYWHERE FROM $350 TO $1000 TO CHANGE THE LAMPS. SAY THE FRONT BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. OWNERS MANUAL HAS INSTRUCTIONS BUT TO ME NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE. FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS STILL DOES NOT FIX THE ACCESS PROBLEM. BULBS APPARENTLY ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER. PRICE STATS AT $175. BESIDES THE PRICE OF THE BULB AND THE UNNECESSARY LABOR THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION ON THE ROAD SHOULD THEY GO OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355258September 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 PRIUS PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON GOES OFF FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AND THEN COMES BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED AND WARNED BY THE POLICE REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT WHEN I TRY TO CHECK IT OUT IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE. I HAVE TAPPED THE LIGHT AND WIGGLED THE WIRES BUT TO NO EFFECT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHICH NEED TO BE REVIEWED AND RESOLVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354122September 7, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LIGHT FLICKERS AND IS ON INTERMITTENTLY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOES OUT. A CALL TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER INDICATES MINIMUM OF $500 TO REPLACE 2 HEADLIGHT BULBS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353959September 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLAMPS ON THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS KEEP TURNING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE LEFT ONE, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT ONE, AND SOMETIMES BOTH. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND THEM BACK ON AGAIN TO GET THEM THE WORK. SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES DURING A 15 MIN. TRIP. MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WITH 47,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD HEADLAMP FAIL WITHIN 2 YEARS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THESE LAMPS ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST TWICE AS LONG A REGULAR BULBS AND THEY APPEAR TO LAST HALF AS LONG. THEY SEEM TO BE OVER-POWERED. GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA THAT SAID THEY WOULD DO ME A FAVOR AND REDUCE THE COST OF A NEW BULB FROM $300 TO $150 (PLUS LABOR). THE LETTER ALSO SAID "TRY NOT TO USE THE HEADLAMPS". NOW THAT IS THE WAY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. "IF THE HEADLAMPS TURN OFF WHEN YOU USE THEM, DON'T USE THEM AND THEY WON'T TURN OFF!" BRILLIANT!!!??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353842September 4, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND AT RANDOM. IT IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. SOMETIMES IT IS THE LEFT SOMETIMES THE RIGHT. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON WILL RELIGHT THE HEADLAMP THAT HAS STOPPED WORKING. TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN ON WHILE DRIVING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO AND PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE I AM TEMPORARILY NOT VISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ON AN UNLITE STREET BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT OFF AND ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT VISIBLE. I AM NOT ALWAYS AWARE THAT ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND I MUST HAVE IMAGINED IT. SO, I TOOK VIDEO. NOW THEY SAY I NEED NEW BULBS AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $400.00 EACH. I CANNOT AFFORD IT. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2007. I HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAD I KNOWN OR BEEN INFORMED OF A PROBLEM. THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL UNDIAGNOSED PROBLEMS. I AM TOLD THAT NONE WILL BE COVERED BY THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT BULBS (WHICH ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE) WILL NOT BE COVERED, REGARDLESS OF HOW OFTEN I NEED TO REPLACE THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353375September 1, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE JUST HAD MY LEFT FRONT HEADLAMP GO OUT ON MY 2008 PRIUS. THERE IS 46,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE COST OF REPLACING ONE HEADLAMP WAS $254 WITH LABOR CHARGE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS LUDICROUS. I CAN REPLACE A NORMAL HEADLAMP MYSELF FOR ABOUT $15. ACCORDING TO JD POWER, THE EXPECTED LIFESPAN OF AN HID BULB IS "3,000 HOURS (ABOUT 90,000 MILES FOR THE AVERAGE DRIVER.)" I DON'T SEE HOW OR WHY THE BULB SHOULD COST SO MUCH TO REPLACE AND WHY TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER THE BULBS FOR LONGER. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE EXTENSIONS ARE NOT COVERED BY TOYOTA BUT BY THE INDIVIDUAL DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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