Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10317126March 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT APPLIES THE BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316558March 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. SO FAR THE BRAKES APPEARED TO FAIL FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND ON THREE OCCASIONS. IN ALL THREE INSTANCES THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS GOING OVER A DEFECT IN THE PAVEMENT (NOT A POTHOLE, JUST A ROUGH SECTION OF PAVING). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316698March 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS INCREASES SPEED FOR 1 SEC WHEN STARTING TO BRAKE. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES PER CALENDAR YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN JULY OF 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316332March 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 2/24/2010 I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS, SLOWING TO STOP FOR A RED ARROW SIGNAL. WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 2MPH, THE CAR REVVED, SHOOTING FORWARD INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF MINE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, I WAS NOT ON THE PHONE OR DISTRACTED WITH ANY OTHER ACTIVITY. AS A RESULT, MY CAR SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE, AND THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IT WAS RAINING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN ROSEVILLE, CA. MY CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE FLOORMAT, BUT THE DEALER IN MY AREA SENT A LETTER STATING NOT TO COME TO THE DEALER FOR THE FIX UNTIL THEY CONTACTED ME. THE NEVER HAVE, AND AFTER THIS INCIDENT DID NOT ASK ME TO BRING THE CAR IN TO FIX THAT ISSUE. ON 3/2/2010, WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, I WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND HIT THE START BUTTON, HOWEVER, ONLY THE ELECTRICAL POWER CAME ON, NOT THE ENGINE. DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND PRESSING THE BUTTON AGAIN STARTED THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316352March 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SECOND ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BRAKE FAILURE WITH ACCELERATION. 2008 PRIUS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC DRIVING IN BATTERY (BRAKE)MODE ABOUT 10-15 MPH. CAR IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY. I LOOK TO BE SURE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WAS AND THEN REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT. CAR IN FRONT MOVE FORWARD BUT PRIUS WOULDN'T STOP AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN SO I PUSHED ON THE PARKING BRAKE WITH MY LEFT FOOT AND SLOWED IT DOWN FOR THE SECOND IMPACT. CAR IN FRONT THEN DROVE SLOWLY TO A PARKING LOT AND THE PRIUS KEPT MOVING SO I DROVE IT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND WHEN IT SLOWED GOING UP THE RAMP I PUSHED THE PARKING BUTTON STOPPING THE CAR. I THEN RESTARTED IT AND RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE TO MOVE FURTHER INTO THE PARKING LOT. 4 PEOPLE INJURED, 3 SERIOUSLY. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED 29 SEPTEMBER 2008 WHEN DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 26 MPH THE PRIUS SUDDENLY TURNED LEFT HITTING A PARKED CAR. THE VIDEO SHOWS I WAS TRYING TO COUNTER STEER HARD RIGHT. SKID MARKS SHOWED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STOPPED AND THE CAR PIVOTED ON IT WITH ACCELERATION MARKS FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10316477March 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
LTR FWD ON BEHALF OF (MI) RE TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEM IN HER 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, REPLY TO LANSING, MI OFC. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEHIND TWO VEHICLES GOING SOUTH AT AN INTERSECTION, WAITING TO TURN RIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED HER FIRST PRACTICE IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP IS TO SIMPLY TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALLOW IT TO START MOVING WITHOUT PUTTING HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, TO MAXIMIZE FUEL EFFICIENCY. AS SHE MOVED HER FOOT TOWARD THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NOT QUITE ON THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 FEET. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES WERE MINIMAL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT WITHOUT INCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316140March 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON JANUARY 19, 2010 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN WITH TRAFFIC FLOW THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AS IF HE WAS STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES AND AVOID A COLLISION. HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS DRIVERS ERROR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315736March 2, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2008 TOURING PRIUS WITH BLIZZACK TIRES. DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH IN PARKING LOT COATED WITH ICE, BOTH SMOOTH AND BUMPY. APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW FOR A TURN OUT OF THE LOT AND THE BRAKES LOCKED, THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE, AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN, HITTING AN ICY SNOWBANK AND CRACKING THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER. THIS INCIDENT WAS 1/1/10. ON 2/1/10 ON THE FREEWAY, AT ABOUT 30-40 MPH, ON SNOW THAT WAS SLICK AND ICY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR WAS SLIDING, THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN; THIS TIME, THOUGH, I LET UP ON THE BRAKES AND PUMPED THEM AND THEN THE CAR DID SLOW DOWN AND I DID NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IN 45 YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHER TIMES THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE, BECAUSE I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF TIMES IN WHICH I HAVE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES AFTER IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO BRAKING ACTION. THE TWO INCIDENTS ABOVE, THOUGH, ARE THE TWO I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315878March 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I BOUGHT A TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. I MENTIONED THE ISSUE TO A TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE AGENTS, BUT HE TOOK IT NO FURTHER NOR DID I. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315274March 1, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH HAS A SURGE PROBLEM UPON START-UP. MY WIFE AND I ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. WE HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM LYE`S IN THE COMPUTER AND NOT IN THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK, DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO COMPRESS THE PEDAL ON START-UP. IN FACT, WE USUALLY KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN CASE IT LUNGES AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314756February 27, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
REPRODUCIBLE LAG IN BRAKE RESPONSE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY CONDITIONS AT LOW SPEEDS (8-20MPH) ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. IF I BRAKE BEFORE A SHARP BUMP (E.G., POTHOLE BEFORE STOP SIGN), THERE IS A DELAY IN BRAKE ENGAGEMENT ON THE ORDER OF SECOND(S), AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE BRAKES WILL EVENTUALLY ENGAGE. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE AND REPRODUCIBLE WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS THAT IS IN THE FOOTHILLS OF SALT LAKE CITY ON A DECLINING AND CURVY ROAD. HOWEVER, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS BRAKE ISSUE PERIODICALLY WHEN HITTING POTHOLES OR SHARP BUMPS ON SLIGHT DECLINES AT OTHER VENUES. HOWEVER, THIS HAS LED TO SEVERAL EPISODES OF THE CAR STOPPING LATER THAN ANTICIPATED, AND I WORRY THAT MY SCENARIO REPRESENTS A "SENTINEL EVENT" FOR FUTURE SAFETY ISSUES. I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS AT A DEALERSHIP, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT "YOU JUST HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE BRAKE FEEL COMPARED TO YOUR OLD NON-HYBRID CAR." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314230February 25, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT 15K MILES THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. CALLED DEALER AND WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT IS HOW THE PRIUS IS. THIS ACTION CONTINUED AND EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED WE CALLED THE DEALER AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. AT 60K WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SERVICE FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND 2 BLOCKS AWAY THE CAR LURCHED INTO TRAFFIC. THAT WAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE THE CAR HAD EVER GOT AND IT SCARED US TO THE CORE. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER WE TOLD THEM ABOUT WHAT JUST OCCURED AND THE MANAGER SAID HE WANTED TO GO ON A TEST DRIVE AND WE WERE HAPPY TO HEAR IT. THE MANAGER SAT IN THE CAR AND THEN DECIDED AGAINST THE TEST DRIVE. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD RESEARCH THE PROBLEM BUT IT WOULD BE AT A COST TO US UNLESS WE GET THE SERVICE DONE AS WELL. WE WERE BOTHERED AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE BEING TREATED THIS WAY. WE LEFT THAT DEALER FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY. WE THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHOM INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE AND BY THE WAY WE SHOW BRAKE AND GAS BEING APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME. THE TECH SAID "YOU SHOULD STOP DRIVING WITH 2 FEET." WE LEFT THAT RIDICULOUSNESS AND CALLED TOYOTA COMPLAINT DEPT. THE CALL WAS IN DEC. 2009 AND THEY DIDN'T SEE OUT CAR UNTIL FEB. 2010. AND AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR WAS GIVEN THE EXACT SAME DIAGNOSIS. WE AVOID DRIVING THE CAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE TOLD THE MASTER TECH THAT OUR DASH BOARD SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FRWY AT 65MPH AND HAS THE NEW ADDED PROBLEM OF LURCHING WHILE ALREADY IN MOTION AND WE ARE AFRAID OF OUR CAR AND FOR OUR SAFETY. THE MASTER TECH SAID IT WAS ALL OPERATOR ERROR. THAT APPEARS TO BE THE END RESULT WITH TOYOTA AND WE ARE HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED. WE HAVE BEEN TOYOTA CUSTOMERS SINCE 1992 AND NOW PAY FOR A CAR WE AVOID DRIVING WHENEVER POSSIBLE. WE JUST WANT TO BE IN A SAFE CAR ON THE ROAD AND FEEL SECURE NOT FEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314411February 25, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TOYOTA 2008 PRIUS SUDDEN ACCELERATION, REMOVED THE MATS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, AS WE FIGURED OUT BY LOOKING AT OTHER CARS CLEARANCE BELOW THE GAS PEDAL. I ACCELERATED BACKWARDS WHEN TRYING TO PARK MY CAR. HIT A PARKED CAR. AFTER REMOVAL OF THE MATS, MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AFTER STOMPING ON BRAKE AND APPLYING PARKING BRAKE. I INFORMED JOHN ELLWAY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN MANHATTAN BEACH CA AND THEY WERE DISMISSIVE. THIS HAPPENED LONG BEFORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS IN THE MEDIA. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, MY MOTHER WATCHED ME ZOOM DOWN OUR ALLEY IN REVERSE AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY CAR. I HAVE A WITNESS. ONE TWO OTHER OCCASIONS THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE DEALER SAYS THAT MY CAR IS NOT EFFECTED BY THE RECALL. I HAD THE ALL WEATHER CAR MATS IN MY CAR THAT I PURCHASED AT THE DEALER. I REMOVED THEM, BUT THIS STILL HAS HAPPENED. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME I WANT THIS TO BE A RECORD OF MY COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314456February 25, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I N A 2008 PRIUS, THREE INCIDENTS TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE ON AN INCLINE. TWO TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS, LOOSING POWER WITH BRAKE/WHEELS LIGHTS ON WHEN SLOWING TO TURN LEFT ON PINE STREET AT TAYLOR...ANOTHER TIME, ALSO IN SAN FRANCISCO SLOWING GOING UPHILL AT POST AND LEAVENWORTH(NO TURN) BUT HILL AND SLOWING AND LOOSING POWER. IN CARMEL, ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO, TURNING DOWNHILL TO THE RIGHT, FROM HIGHWAY #1 TO CARPENTER STREET(AGAIN, BRAKE LIGHTS/WHEELS)LOSS OF POWER. TOLD TECH'S WHEN SERVICED...TOLD IT WAS NORMAL! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313546February 24, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS A DEFECT THAT I TRIED TO RESOLVE WITH THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAD OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT GOT 45-50 MPG WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ABOUT 45 HIGHWAY. I TRADED THIS CAR IN FOR A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN THE 2008, I AM LUCKY TO GET ABOVE 35 MPG IN TOWN AND I GET ABOUT 45 HIGHWAY. MY MILEAGE ON HIGHWAY IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IN TOWN WHICH IS NOT WHAT TOYOTA ADVERTISES AND I AM NOT DRIVING ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN I DID THE 2004 PRIUS. SO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ECM IN THE CAR. WHEN I COMPLAINED, THE DEALERSHIP TOOK ME ON A DRIVE WITH MY CAR WHERE THEY DROVE VERY VERY SLOWLY DOWNHILL AND REGISTERED 60 MPG AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. SO I GAVE IT UP. NOW THAT I SEE THAT QUALITY CONTROL OF TOYOTA IS NON-EXISTENT, I KNOW THE ECM IS NOT ACTING PROPERLY AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313603February 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. SHE STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT A WARNING. SHE THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, IT SLOWED DOWN, AND STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36616 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313646February 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON BUT DID NOT ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800. UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BUTTON. HOWEVER, WHEN HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. UPDATED 05/10/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313763February 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING UP TO HER GARAGE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED, MINUS THE CRASH. SHE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313804February 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). HELLO AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED A 2008 PRIUS ON MAY 14, 2008 AND EXPERIENCED WITHIN ONE MONTH OF BUYING THIS PRIUS, AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. I TRIED BRAKING AS I PULLED UP TO MY GARAGE IN ORDER TO PARK MY CAR IN FRONT OF IT LIKE I USUALLY DO, THE BRAKE ACTED "IFFY" AND THE CAR WENT RIGHT INTO MY GARAGE DOOR! ORIGINALLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS MY FAULT, BUT I KNEW I HAD HIT THE BRAKES CORRECTLY LIKE I DID IN THE PAST AND SWEAR SOMETHING MUST OF ACTED-UP. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN, IN A TARGET STORE PARKING LOT WHERE THE BRAKE WAS ACTING, "IFFY." WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THE 5000 MILES CHECK-UP I HAD EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS, BUT THIS WAS BEFORE ANY "RECALL" NOTICE WHAT-SO-EVER!! I HAVE BEEN BACK TO TOYOTA FOR MY EVERY 5000 MILES CHECK-UP SINCE, AND ALWAYS INQUIRE ABOUT THAT SITUATION AS I HOPE THEY DOCUMENT MY CONCERNS. KNOCK ON WOOD, I HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT IT DID HAPPEN, AND I HAVE A NEW GARAGE DOOR AND SCRAPED FRONT FENDER TO SHOW FOR IT! WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE "RECALL" I JUST KNEW IT WAS NOT ME NOR MY IMAGINATION HERE!!! I AM SEEKING REPAIR/DAMAGE COMPENSATION FOR THE FRONT FENDER AND GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT! THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR EXPERIENCE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. [XXX] *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312936February 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2008 PRIUS, MAY HAVE HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT. I HAVE NOT SEEN A 2008 INCLUDED IN THE NEWS, BUT MY EXPERIENCE SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN REPORTING. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON SNOW PACKED ROADS I WAS MAKING A TURN INTO THE BUSINESS PARK WHERE I WORK. THE CORNER WAS GOING NORMALLY UNTIL I HIT THE DRAINAGE DIP IN THE INTERSECTION. AT THIS TIME I FEEL THAT I LOST ALL BRAKING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE STREET WAS COVERED WITH PACKED FRESH SNOW, BUT NO ICE. I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS ON THE 20 MILE DRIVE INTO WORK WITH NO ISSUES OR TRACTION PROBLEMS AT ANY INTERSECTION OR CORNER. WHEN I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND THAT I WAS NOT SLOWING I QUICKLY TRIED TO LET OFF THE BRAKES AND THEN REAPPLY THEM BUT NOTHING SEEMED TO HAPPEN AT ALL REGARDLESS IF I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES OR NOT. NO PUMPING SOUND FROM ANTILOCK BRAKES, NO TRACTION WARNING LIGHT, NO SLOWING OF THE CAR - NOTHING AT ALL. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING TO MY PUSH OF THE PEDAL IN ANY WAY. LUCKILY I WAS NOT GOING FAST AT ALL (I WOULD ESTIMATE WELL UNDER 10MPH), SO THIS HAPPENED OVER A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. I DID STRIKE A CURB THAT WAS PART OF AN ISLAND AND CRACKED A RIM BUT NO DAMAGE TO THE STEERING THAT AN ALIGNMENT DID NOT RESOLVE. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE RIMS SINCE THE LOCAL DEALER HAD TO ORDER THEM IN AND I NEEDED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS AN ISLAND AND THAT I DID NOT CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE OTHER LANE OR WORSE A PEDESTRIAN. I REALIZE THAT I WAS ON PACKED SNOW AT THE TIME AND AM NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING FOR THE DAMAGES TO THE WHEEL FROM TOYOTA - BUT JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THE BRAKING ISSUE MAY BE MORE THAN THE CURRENT MODEL YEAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A LOSS OF CONTROL IN A CAR BEFORE IN ANY ROAD CONDITIONS EVER. IT WAS A LOSS OF ANY ABILITY TO BRAKE OR EVEN SLOW THE CAR. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU AND THAT TOYOTA IS TESTING THE SOFTWARE FOR OLDER PRIUS MODELS TOO. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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