Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10317587March 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM BEGAN TO BRAKE AND HE THOUGHT HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO BRAKE. IN FACT, HIS FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WITH THE SYSTEM HE BELIEVED WAS ALREADY IN REGENERATIVE BRAKING. IN FACT, IT ACTUALLY SEEMED TO DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR ABOUT A SECOND WHILE EXHIBITING NONE OF THE FOOT PEDAL VIBRATION CHARACTERISTIC OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. ONLY AFTER THE SECOND LONG PERIOD OF NO BRAKING CAPABILITY DID ANY BRAKING FORCE SEEM TO OCCUR WHICH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED WAS WHEN THE SYSTEM'S MECHANICAL BRAKING TOOK OVER. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318380March 10, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL TANK BEING EMPTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318443March 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE DURING THE ACCELERATION CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY POLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317943March 9, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE OWN A 2008 PRIUS. THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY (AND THE LATEST INCIDENT IN CALIF.) LEADS US TO BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE. ALL WE CAN GET FROM TOYOTA AND ITS DEALER IS WAIT UNTIL YOU GET A LETTER. WHEN IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO FORCE THEM TO DO SOMETHING? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318003March 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES AFTER GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES. I NOTICE THIS WHEN I AM APPLYING CONSTANT BRAKE PRESSURE THROUGH BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS AS MY BRAKES WILL SIMPLY LET GO. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM REGARDING THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM BELIEVING THERE IS WHEEL LOCK UP WHEN THERE IS NONE. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. IT SHOULD NOT BE SO SENSITIVE THAT IS GOES OFF WHEN NO WHEELS ARE SLIPPING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IN MANY INSTANCES AND IT HAS ALMOST LEAD TO ME CRASHING INTO A TOLL BOOTH ARM/POLE. OR ONCE DRIVING TOO FAR INTO AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT. TOYOTA SAYS THE BRAKING PROBLEM ONLY AFFECTS THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL BUT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS SINCE I FIRST TOOK POSSESSION OF MY MODEL 2008 PRIUS IN EARLY 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318140March 9, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A 2008 PRIUS WITH HID BULBS AND THEY BOTH STARTED GOING OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER OWNING IT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT. IN JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES, I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL! I WAS IN A URBAN AREA, SO THE STREET LIGHTS WERE THERE SO THAT I COULD SEE. BUT IF I WERE IN THE COUNTRY, AS I USUALLY AM ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BIG TROUBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318143March 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 PRIUS HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF ABS FALSE ACTIVATION. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AN SOFTWARE UPDATE TO BE DEVELOPED AND DEPLOYED, BUT IT SEEMS TOYOTA ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE ON THE 2010 MODEL. I AM A FORMER BRAKE SYSTEMS ENGINEER AND I KNOW HOW THE ABS SHOULD OPERATE. THIS TUNING IS TOO SENSITIVE ON ROUGH SURFACES AND RESULTS IN TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE THAT IS DISCONCERTING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THIS OCCURS ANYTIME BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACES (CHATTER BUMP). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318194March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION THE CONTACT HAD TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP FROM THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40000. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF UPDATED 05/1010*JB UPDATED 05/13/10.8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318208March 9, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH JULY 5, 2009 THE BEACH TRAFFIC WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER. STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS STOPPED BEHIND AN SUV. THE TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE AND MY PRIUS BOLTED FORWARD INTO THE SUV WHICH IN TURN PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER SUV. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE FRONT SEAT. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN JUST A FENDER BENDER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318204March 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THEN NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE WENT OUT PERIODICALLY AND HAD TO FLIP THE SWITCH FOR LIGHT TO GO BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED FOR MONTH OR SO. THEN IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THEN ABOUT MONTH LATER - THE PASSENGER LIGHT WOULD GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING ME WITH NO LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. BY FLIPPING THE SWITCH, THE LIGHT WOULD GO BACK ON FOR FEW MINUTES AND THEN AGAIN SHUT OFF. CAR IS A 2008 PRIUS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A BARELY 2 YEAR OLD CAR. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE WIRING, ETC BECAUSE THE LIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT SO SOON... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318269March 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
DRIVING 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, GOING AROUND A ROUND ABOUT WHEN THE CAR WENT OVER A SMALL PATCH OF ICE. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED BUT THE CAR DID NOT SEEM TO SLOW DOWN OR RESPOND. THE CARS PASSENGER FRONT TIRE HIT THE CURB AND CAUSED $2300 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES OR DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318292March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNPROMPTED ACCELERATION - CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN ACCORD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND LASTS FOR ONLY A SECOND OR SO. THIS COMPLAINT IS PROMPTED BY MORE SEVERE REPORTS WHICH ARE VERY CONCERNING TO US IN REGARD TO POTENTIAL HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318302March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA RE: RECALL DUE TO POTENTIAL FOR CAR MAT CAUSING ACCELERATOR TO STICK OPEN. LETTER INDICATED THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME "AS SOON AS A CAMPAIGN REMEDY IS AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE." LETTER FURTHER INDICATED THAT I COULD SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO YOU "IF YOU BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY WITHOUT CHARGE OR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME".. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT ANY "REMEDY CAMPAIGN". THIS IS NOT TIMELY AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF "SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION" IN THESE VEHICLES. IT IS ALSO APPARENT THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THEM. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT TOYOTA HAS ANY INTENTION OF NOTIFYING ME OF ANY "REMEDY" AS THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ANY OTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEM. EVERY TIME MY WIFE OR I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WE ARE RISKING THIS HAPPENING TO OUR VEHICLE AND TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317638March 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DEC 1 2008 PRIUS - UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CAR IN FROM OF ME ... APPROXIMATELY A CAR LENGTH OR SO AWAY. THE MOTOR RACED HIGH AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN UNTIL I HELD ON THE POWER BUTTON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF THEM IT TOOK TOYOTA OVER A MONTH TO INSPECT THE CAR (THEIR LEGAL FOLKS SET IT UP) AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULD BE PRESENT WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT THEY DIDN'T LET US KNOW. OVER 5 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE RECEIVED A FORM LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WITH TOYOTA'S DELAY, WE ENDED UP WAITING OVER 8 WEEKS TO GET THE CAR BACK, AT A COST OF $15,000 .... FOR A COLLISION WHERE THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING 1-4 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IS KNOW UNSAFE AND WE CANNOT DRIVE IT. OFFERS FROM 2 TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ARE UP TO $3K UNDER KELLY BLUE BOOK TRADE IN VALUE FOR A REPLACE CAR (NON PRIUS). DRIVER OF PRIUS HAS A RECORD OF DRIVING OVER 30 YEARS WITH NO ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317822March 8, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY FAILS WHILE THE CAR IS IN OPERATION. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE RECREATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317917March 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHENEVER I BRAKE WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR A POTHOLE, MY BRAKES GIVE OUT MOMENTARILY. AT THAT SAME TIME A SYMBOL FLASHES ON MY DASHBOARD. MY MANUAL IDENTIFIES THIS SYMBOL AS "THE VSC (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) HAS BEEN ENGAGED." THIS FORM REQUIRES A SPECIFIC MONTH, DAY, YEAR. THE APPROXIMATELY INCIDENT DATES ARE EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH, EVERY YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317436March 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON GREENBACK LANE IN CITRUS HEIGHTS CA ON DEC. 24 2008 SLIGHT SPRINKLING AT THE TIME AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN TO STOP I COULDN'T GET THE CAR STOPPED AND REAR ENDED A VAN . THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK FOR A SECOND OR SO AND I KEPT PRESSURE ON AND FINALLY THEY STARTED TO WORK BUT TO LATE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. I HIT A MINIVAN AND IT PUSHED HIM INTO A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME MY CAR MAY BE DEFECTIVE UNTIL ALL THE NEWS STARTED TO SURFACE AND NOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. EVERYONE ELSE SAID THEY WEREN'T INJURED AT THE TIME BUT NOW THE DRIVER IN THE TRAIL BLAZER SAYS HE HAS WHIPLASH INJURIES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10317463March 7, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS OFTEN GO OUT. IF I STOP AND MANIPULATE THE CONNECTION, IT WILL COME BACK ON. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON. PRIMARILY HAPPENS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT BUT PASSENGER SIDE HAS ALSO GONE OUT. THEY HAVE NEVER(AS YET) BOTH GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317383March 6, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
APPROX. ONE MONTH AGO I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS. THREE TIMES ONLY THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT, AND ONE TIME BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. I DON'T DO TOO MUCH NIGHT DRIVING SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN, BUT MY BEST ESTIMATE IS ONE MONTH AGO. AGAIN, THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING AS THEY SHOULD. I KNOW OF NO CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM AS THE SITUATION HAS OCCURRED DURING FREEWAY DRIVING DURING CLEAR CONDITIONS AND RAIN CONDITIONS, AS WELL ON WHEN DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS. WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT IT WAS DUSK AND I WAS ONLY A BLOCK FROM HOME. THE 3 OTHER TIMES WHEN JUST THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT I KNEW OF NO WAY TO GET THE LIGHT BACK ON AND JUST CONTINUED MY TRIP WITH ONE HEADLIGHT FUNCTIONING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317044March 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 PRIUS REGULARLY THRUSTS FORWARD AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS FROM STARTING THE CAR. THEN, CAR LOOMS BACK INTO POSITION. IT HAS ALWAYS SCARED ME AND MAKES ME INSECURE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2007, SO THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT BELOW IS INACCURATE. I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT REPORTS OF DEFECTS, ETC. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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