Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10331196May 19, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 PRIUS DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT FREQUENTLY BUT WILL COME BACK ON IF YOU TURN THE LIGHTS ON THEN OFF AGAIN. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA HID LIGHTS AS THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331250May 19, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 PRIUS. OFTEN WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN AND IT FEELS AS IF I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I DON'T THINK I COULD STOP SUDDENLY. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING SOMETIMES EVEN IN GOOD WEATHER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330950May 18, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN. WHEN IT DOES SO, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND AND THE CAR GOES FASTER, LIKE THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS FAILING BEFORE IT ENDS UP KICKING IN. MY TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK BUT IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO ME. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331045May 18, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT IS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES IT IS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES AND WE ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330740May 17, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON DRY, CLEAR AND CLEAN ROADS, MY CAR BRAKING SYSTEM WILL SEEM TO FAIL AND FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS GOING INTO A SKID. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL - ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO REASON FOR BRAKE TROUBLE. SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330610May 16, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES BRAKING POWER EVERY TIME I BRAKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMPY OR UNEVEN SURFACE AND IT TAKES 1/2 TO 1 SECOND BEFORE THEY RE-ENGAGE. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND HAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN GO ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. WHEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN EXPERIENCED THIS LOSS IN BRAKES, HE EXPLAINED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO RELEASE THE BRAKES ON THE TIRE (DURING BUMPY ROAD SURFACE) TO PREVENT LOCK-UP, BUT IF I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL LONG ENOUGH THE BRAKES WOULD RE-ENGAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES FOR THE BRAKES TO RE-ENGAGE WAS TOO LONG AND MIGHT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIME LAPSE WAS NORMAL/STANDARD FOR ABS AND PRIUS DRIVERS NEEDED TO ADJUST THEIR DRIVING HABITS TO ALLOW FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330643May 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHEN BRAKING ON SLIPPERY SURFACE-THE ABS KICKS IN- IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE BRAKES DISENGAGE AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP SLIGHTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330551May 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS -ABS RELEASES BRAKES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES OVER BUMP OR BUMPY ROAD SURFACE CAUSING LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCELERATION IN TURN IF GOING OVER BUMP AS THUG STABILITY CONTROL IS ACTIVATING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330571May 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DURING A HARD BRAKING EVENT, THE ANTI-LOCK-BRAKES TAKE OVER BUT FOR A MOMENT BEFORE THEY DO, IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE NO BRAKES AND THE CAR SEEMS TO GO FASTER. IT IS A SCARY FEELING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330584May 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I AM BRAKING (USING THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM) AND HIT A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT THAT REQUIRES THE ABS, THERE IS A SHORT TIME WHEN NO BRAKE IS ENGAGED AND THE CAR SEEMS TO SPEED UP TEMPORARILY (JUST A SPLIT SECOND). PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, NOT JUST THE DATE REQUESTED BELOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329535May 10, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT IN UNDER 40,000 MILES IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329481May 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE NOTICED A SEEMING PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. IF I AM BRAKING WHEN I HAPPEN TO GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES SEEM LIKE THEY "LET UP", SO THAT IT FEELS LIKE INSTEAD OF BRAKING, THE CAR IS ACCELERATING. OCCASIONALLY, THE LIGHT WILL COME ON THE DASH THAT INDICATES A SLIPPERY ROAD, SO I THINK IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES? IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, AND I'M CURIOUS IF THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329215May 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I WAS DRIVING A RENTED TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 HYBRID ELECTRIC ON APRIL 8TH IN MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO AND MET WITH THREE VEHICLES COLLISION. ON A SOLID GREEN SIGNAL, A MIN VAN COMING FROM EAST, OPPOSITE DIRECTION CUT OFF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM WEST. FIRST CAR SLAMMED THE BRAKES AND DID NOT HIT THE WRONGFUL MINI VAN. SECOND CAR HIT THE FIRST CAR. I REAR ENDED SECOND CAR. I WAS IN SAFE DISTANCE AND APPLIED BRAKES. THIS CAR DID NOT STOP AND KEPT MOVING AND HIT THE SECOND CAR. IT WAS A RAINY DAY. NORMAL CARS WOULD STOP WITHOUT HITTING. NO ONE INJURED. I THINK TOYOTA HAS TO ADVICE ALL YEAR MODELS TO FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONTACTED TOYOTA SCARBOROUGH. IT SAYS THIS CAR IS NOT IN RE-CALL LIST. HOW RECALLING LIST PREPARED, I DO NOT KNOW. AFTER INCIDENTS? I WILL NEVER DRIVE PRIUS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329069May 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A STRONG SMELL THAT RESEMBLES A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IT MAKES YOUR EYES WATER AND YOUR CLOTHS SMELL LIKE IT LONG AFTER YOU HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS NOT SURE WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED CLAIMS OF THE SAME SMELL ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328494May 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES FAULT IN VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO RESPOND TO DRIVE AS HE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. IT SEEMED THE BRAKE WAS ON. A MASTER FAULT APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. IT SAID BATTERIES WILL NOT CHARGE IF LET IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, IT FINALLY RESPONDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328657May 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN SOMETIMES RESTORES THE DEFECTIVE LIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT APPEARS FREQUENTLY ON THE PRIUS CHAT LIST AND IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX. TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AT THIS POINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328437May 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A SMOOTH INTERSTATE, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED WHEN I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AGAIN AND IT STOPPED ACCELERATING, AND SLOWED DOWN. I HAD REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT A FEW WEEKS PRIOR. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE, WHICH INCLUDED A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THEY SAID AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE CAR THAT THEY DETERMINED FORM THE LOG THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME, TWICE. I AM SURE I DID NOT STEP ON BOTH. AS I SAID, I TAPPED THE BREAK TO TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL, AND AT THE TIME IT ACCELERATED MY FOOT WAS IN THE AIR, NOT TOUCHING EITHER PEDAL. I SUGGESTED THE CRUISE CONTROL MAY BE ERRONEOUSLY PUTTING FLAGS IN THE LOG AS IT SLOWS AND ACCELERATED TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT SPEED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPORT THIS SUGGESTION OR SINCE IT WOULD BE DIAGNOSING, AND SAID THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THEM TO REPORT THAT I WAS SURE I HAD NOT STEPPED ON BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU, AND I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327453April 27, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES MADE A NOISE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN RUST ON THE ROTORS, DUE TO LACK OF DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING PROPER GAS MILEAGE AND THE GAS MOTOR MADE A LOT OF NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327494April 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLAMP OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND I GOT A TRAFFIC TICKET FOR IT. SINCE I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE LAMP WAS OUT, THE TICKET WAS ONLY A WARNING. I HAD THE LAMP REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AT 36300 MILES AND $300! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327563April 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 08 PRIUS. THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE PEOPLE TELL ME I HAVE A LIGHT OUT, BUT WHEN I CHECK ITS WORKING. IT SEEMS THAT I AM DRIVING IN THE DARK SOMETIMES WITH JUST MY FOG LAMPS, I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON THEN THEY SEEM BRIGHTER. HEADLAMPS COST $179. PLUS LABOR. TOYOTA WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT IS THE FIX AND TALKING IT MAY COST UPWARDS OF 4-5 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR DEPENDABLE LIGHTS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CRIME TOO ME. I HEAR OF A POSSIBLE RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM NOW, I DON'T HAVE 4-5 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE PROPERLY WORKING HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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