Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10352924August 31, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
JULY 16TH OUR SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2008 PRIUS WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND THERE WAS ACCELERATION WITH THE CAR. HE REARENDED AN SUV AT A STOP LIGHT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT DUE TO THE FACT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEY HAD OUR SON CALL TOYOTA TO GIVE THEM A REPORT OF WHAT HAPPENED. TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD SEND A REP. TO EXAMINE THE CAR, WHICH THEY WOULD NOT BE THERE FOR 2 WEEKS. WE WAITED AND THEY FINALLY ARRIVED AROUND AUGUST 4TH OR 5TH. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID WE COULD COME AND GET THE CAR, WHICH I WAS CONCERNED NOT KNOWING IF THERE WAS DEFECT OR NOT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD US TOYOTA TAKES ALL RESPONSIBILITY OUT OF THEIR HANDS. I FELT THAT WAS RIDICULOUS SINCE THEY SELL TOYOTA VEHICLES. ON AUGUST 12TH OUR SON CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE A LETTER COMING IN ABOUT 35 DAYS. WE ARE STILL WAITING AND FEEL THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING BUT PASS THE BUCK. WE ALSO PURCHASED ANOTHER PRIUS AT THE SAME TIME. BY THE WAY THEY BOTH TOLD MY SON IN THE BEGINNING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED OUR SON REALIZED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE CAR AND THOUGHT IT WAS HIM, UNTIL THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE THERE HAS 2 NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED IN THE CAR SINCE PURCHASED IN 2008. WE JUST WANT ANSWERS!!!!! THERE WAS $1800 DOLLARS DAMAGE SUSTAINED WITH THIS ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NO ONE HERE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WITH SOME ANSWERS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352486August 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I PUT MY 2008 PRIUS INTO THE PARK MODE ALONG WITH THE BRAKE BUT STILL HAVING THE CAR RUNNING, I WILL OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO GET MY MAIL. WHEN I THEN CLOSE THE DOOR AND TRY AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET THE CAR INTO THE DRIVE MODE WILL FAIL. I THEN COAST MY CAR DOWN THE HILL INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE TRIED SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND STARTING FROM SCRATCH BUT IT WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST MONTH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT OCCURRED AFTER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SO I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK IN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I AM ON A ROAD AND CAN'T GET MY CAR TO DRIVE. ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT OCCURRED DURING THIS TIME IS THAT I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SHIFTED INTO THE B MODE. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF IT BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352520August 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AFTER 1-3 MINUTES. TURNING OFF HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND TURNING BACK ON RESTORES HEADLIGHT FOR ANOTHER 1-3 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352343August 27, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT OR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352188August 26, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2008 PRIUS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TWICE TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT AT TIMES, WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD IT FEELS AS IF MY BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASE. SOME TIMES IT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY DAUGHTERS TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE UNCOMFORTABLE SENSATION. I KNOW THE CAR WILL STOP (IT ALWAYS HAS) BUT FOR A SPLIT SECOND IT IS FRIGHTENING. BOTH TIMES I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY TOYOTA DEALER THAT IT IS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FEATURE KICKING IN. ONCE THEY TEST DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I DRIVE IT DAILY AND I MAY ONLY EXPERIENCE IT TWICE A WEEK. 15 MINUTES WILL NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351670August 25, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAS HID HEADLIGHTS. LAST WEEK THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO COME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT THOROUGHLY AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. YESTERDAY, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS AGAIN OUT, AND TURNING IT OFF AND ON GOT IT TO LIGHT UP, BUT DIMMER THAN THE LEFT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THESE HID HEADLIGHTS THAT TOYOTA IS NOT RECOGNIZING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349513August 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS JUST GO OUT RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST THE DRIVER SIDE OR THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, BUT AT TIMES IT HAS BEEN BOTH. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK. BUT THIS ISN'T A PERMANENT SOLUTION BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I START THE CAR. IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED 2+ TIMES ON THE SAME TRIP. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I GENERALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN ONE OR THE OTHER LIGHT HAS TURNED OFF UNLESS I HAPPEN TO SEE IT IN THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AND IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A HAZARD IF BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE ON/OFF TRICK DOESN'T GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. THE CAR IS ALMOST 3 YRS OLD AND HAS 45000 MILES. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS AND I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE THEY HAD MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349159August 13, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED EXTREMELY HIGH WITH AN INCREASE IN THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND TRAVELED OVER A CEMENT PARKING BLOCK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT INVOLVED. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE BRICK WALL DAMAGES WAS $2,500. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) IN JUNE OF 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349274August 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STARTED DRIVING 2008 PRIUS HOME AND THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT THEN BOTH LIGHTS. TURNED THEM OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THEY WORKED FOR A FEW MINUTES OFF AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349121August 12, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ON 2008 PRIUS FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348754August 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *KB AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN, THE ROTORS WERE ALSO WORN AND WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS AND THERE WAS A FLUID LEAK FROM THE IMPACT DAMAGE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND MOVED FREELY WITH NO BINDING OR STICKING. THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT WAS AN AFTERMARKET ALL WEATHER MAT, NOT PROPERLY SECURED. IT WAS POSITIONED FORWARD WHERE IT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE AND A MOTORIST EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *JB UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED 01/07/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348600August 10, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 18 - 20 MONTHS, EITHER HEADLAMP WILL TURN OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON RESTORES NORMAL FUNCTION. WE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE DEALER WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING EXCEPT REPLACE HEADLAMPS AT OUR EXPENSE. THE HEADLAMPS TURN OFF WITH ALARMING REGULARITY, TO THE POINT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER DARK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347248August 4, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER BEING TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES UNTIL ONE WILL GO OUT AGAIN. I DO NOT LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON ALL OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. THE REPLACEMENT BULBS ARE $150 AT TOYOTA AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DO NOT THINK THE BULBS SHOULD STOP WORKING SO SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346262July 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. HE WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES BUT HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A KNEE INJURY. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED HIS CALL. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON GOING FOR SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,300. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF UPDATED 10/07/10
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10346311July 30, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING TO WORK AGAIN IN THE EARLY A.M., MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT DIDN'T KNOW IT UNTIL I WAS STOPPED BY POLICE. AFTER THE OFFICER TOLD ME ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT, I TURNED THEM OFF, THEN BACK ON AND THE OFFICER TOLD ME THAT BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO STOP NUMEROUS PRIUS VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM, WHICH SUPPORTS MY CONTENTION THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NHTSA OR TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND HAVE FIXED W/O HAVING THE CONSUMER PAY FOR IT, OR BE HURT IF THIS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE FILED SEVERAL SAFETY COMPLAINTS NOW WITH THE NHTSA AND HAVE NEVER GOTTEN A RESPONSE. I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING IF THESE REPORTS ARE BEING EVALUATED OR SIMPLY IGNORED, BUT PLEASE DO YOUR JOB AND ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346409July 30, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON 7/26/10 I PURCHASED 2008 CERTIFIED TOYOTA PRIUS. I DIDN'T RECEIVE CAR UNTIL 7/28/10. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 7/29/10 BECAUSE THE INSIDE CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT IT DID SMELL LIKE GAS AND IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CURRENTLY TOYOTA IS LOOKING AT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. I FEAR THIS CAR MIGHT BE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HIGH POWER VOLTAGE AND GAS FUMES. VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY INSPECTED AND SOLD IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED FROM IS LONGO TOYOTA LOCATED IN EL MONTE, CA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346408July 30, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON 7/26/10 I PURCHASED 2008 CERTIFIED TOYOTA PRIUS. I DIDN'T RECEIVE CAR UNTIL 7/28/10. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 7/29/10 BECAUSE THE INSIDE CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT IT DID SMELL LIKE GAS AND IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CURRENTLY TOYOTA IS LOOKING AT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. I FEAR THIS CAR MIGHT BE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HIGH POWER VOLTAGE AND GAS FUMES. VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY INSPECTED AND SOLD IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345796July 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID LEFT HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2008 PRIUS. MY CAR IS BEYOND WARRANTY FOR THIS AND TOYOTA HAS OFFERED "CUSTOMER SUPPORT" FOR THIS PROBLEM AT A REDUCED COST. THE REDUCED COST IS IN EXCESS OF $1000 FOR CONTROL ECU AND BULB REPLACEMENT. PRIUS FORUMS SUGGEST I CONTACT YOU FOR ASSISTANCE IN THIS SAFETY MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345975July 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000. UPDATED 10/01/10*LJ WHILE SLOWLY MOVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD LANDING ON A PARKING LOT DIVIDER. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED WHIPLASH. UPDATED 10/10/05
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10345221July 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIMS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 60 SECONDS BOTH LIGHT TURN OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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