Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10305307February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE GLIDING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND ONLY OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305407February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS NOT LIMITED TO GENERATION 3 VEHICLES. I HAVE AND 2008 PRIUS (GENERATION 2) THAT ALWAYS LUNGES FORWARD WHILE BRAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS OVER A POTHOLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305419February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THE BRAKES OF MY TOYOTA PRIUS SEEM TO HAVE INTERMITTENT "GRABBING AND DELAYING" PROBLEMS. THE MOST FREQUENT PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMS TO APPLY EXTRA PRESSURE WHEN SLOWING AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK SLIGHTLY. LESS FREQUENTLY THE BRAKES CAN SEEM TO "GO OUT" FOR A SHORT TIME AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR POT HOLE. IF THE ROAD IS WET THIS SEEMS TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE IS VARIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305425February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I DRIVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. FIRST, WHEN I MAKE SHARP RIGHT TURNS, THE ENGINE CUTS OUT. SECOND, ON UNEVEN ROADS, THE HYDROPLANE FEATURE ACTIVATES AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305369February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I DRIVE A BLACK 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND AFTER READING THE NEWS REPORTS, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SIMILAR BRAKING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE CONDITION DEFINITELY DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, BUT I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 5-10 TIMES OVER THE 23 MONTHS (MARCH 08 - PRESENT) THAT I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED AFTER GOING OVER A ROUGH SPOT OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS SKIDDING OR SLIDING. THE CAR WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THE CAR WAS NEVER OUT OF CONTROL, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL DEFINITELY FELT VERY LOOSE WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ALSO, WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE LOW-TRACTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES FOR A FEW SECONDS. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THERE WAS NOT OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND. UP TO THIS POINT, I ATTRIBUTED THE CONDITION TO DRIVER ERROR, BUT I WOULD RATHER ADD MY DESCRIPTION AND ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING OVERLY CAUTIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305391February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE OVER ICE OR A SPEED BUMP, THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TRACTION CONTROL WOULD ACTIVATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE MOMENTARILY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA EMAIL; HOWEVER SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 1,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 18,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305372February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING FAILURE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED IN THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE SIMILAR FAILURES WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON BOTH SLIPPERY AND BUMPY ROADS WHERE THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY DISENGAGE FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN FOR AN UNREASONABLY LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN PULSE WILDLY BETWEEN HAVING THE DRIVE SYSTEM ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE. IN MINNESOTA WITH SLIPPERY ROADS FOR MANY MONTHS IN THE YEAR, IT CAN BE VERY TRICKY MAKING A LEFT HAD TURN EVEN WHEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS A VERY SAFE DISTANCE AWAY. YOU CAN "STALL" MID TURN IN A VERY VULNERABLE BROADSIDE POSITION. SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED, TO A LESSER DEGREE ON BUMPY ROADS, NOT JUST ICY ROADS. I HAVE NOT PRESSED TOYOTA ON THE ISSUE. I RAISED IT ONCE IN CONVERSATION AND THEY SIMPLY SAID THAT IT WAS JUST HOW THE TRACTION CONTROL OPERATED. I AM TELLING YOU AS YOU OPEN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM. I THINK THE SCOPE IS WIDER THAN BRAKES, IT IS ACCELERATION AS WELL, AND I DON'T THINK IT IS LIMITED TO THE MOST RECENT MODEL OF THE PRIUS. I DRIVE A LATE MODEL PREVIOUS GENERATION PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305505February 4, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN OCT. 2007 WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. IT IS CURRENTLY 28 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 51K MILES. THE HID PASSENGER HEADLIGHT JUST PREMATURELY BURNED OUT AND I MUST HAVE IT REPAIRED IN ORDER TO SAFELY (AND LEGALLY) DRIVE AT NIGHT. THIS IS A KNOWN TOYOTA DEFECT THAT NEEDS ACTION TO CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305512February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1. ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, ICE, OR SLIPPERY ROAD (AFTER A RAIN) 2. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AS A CAR WOULD WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION IF BRAKING WITHOUT DOWNSHIFTING 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. TOYOTA SUMMARIZES THE PROBLEM AS SUCH:THE WHEEL SLIDE OR STABILITY INDICATOR SWITCHES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON EQUALING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. HAPPENS CONDITIONS RANGING FROM PERFECT TO OTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305520February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 PRIUS LURCHES FORWARD AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN ENCOUNTERING A SMALL POT HOLE/ SLIPPERY CONDITIONS...THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS WITH MY OLDER MODEL. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I ENCOUNTER SOME UNFORESEEN OBSTACLES (2 OR 3 TIMES/MONTH). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305536February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
RE: MY 2008 PRIUS. THE BRAKES OCCASIONALLY SEEM TO 'SKIP,' ESPECIALLY ON WET OR ROUGH ROADS. THEY ALWAYS WORK, BUT SEEM TO PAUSE OR HESITATE BEFORE STOPPING. I'VE ONLY HEARD WORD ABOUT 2010 MODELS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MY 2008 TOO OFTEN! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305510February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THE CAR DIDN'T HANDLE AS I EXPECTED - I GOT A "HYDROPLANING" WARNING LIGHT EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS NOT RAINING AND TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT REACT AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A CURB, CAUSING $3,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, AXEL, AND BUMPER. NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO MY OWN CAR. AT THE TIME I CHALKED IT UP TO NOT YET BEING USED TO THE CAR, I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A JETTA THAT HANDLED WONDERFULLY AND I WAS USED TO THAT CAR BEING COMPLETELY RESPONSIVE. I MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO MY CAR AND JUST TRIED TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE ALWAYS NOTICED CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT THE HANDLING AND BRAKING OF THIS CAR, AND THE CURRENT RECALL ON THE 2010 VERSION MADE ME REALIZE I WASN'T IMAGINING THESE PROBLEMS. I CONSTANTLY GET THE HYDROPLANING TYPE WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR IN BAD WEATHER, TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY PRIUS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND OFTEN BORROW A RELATIVE'S CAR. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE NO MORE ACCIDENTS OTHER THAN THAT FIRST ONE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MOST DEFINITELY BEEN TIMES WHEN I FELT THE CAR WAS NOT HANDLING THE WAY IT OUGHT TO. EVEN WHEN I HAD THAT ACCIDENT I HAD MAINTAINED TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT I JUST COULDN'T FATHOM HOW I GOT INTO THAT ACCIDENT AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS "THE CAR'S FAULT." I DIDN'T SPREAD THIS OPINION TOO WIDELY THOUGH BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS JUST MAKING AN EXCUSE FOR MY ACCIDENT. THAT'S REALLY HOW I FELT THOUGH; AS IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE BRAKES THAT DAY. I FELT IF I HAD BEEN IN ANY OTHER CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN THAT ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS AN OPTION TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA UNTIL THIS RECALL HIT THE NEWS, SO I FIGURED FILING A COMPLAINT NOW IS BETTER THAN NEVER FILING AT ALL. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305497February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS AND IT DOES EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE REPORTING THE 2010 MODELS ARE DOING. MINE JUMPS FORWARD WHILE BRAKING OVER A ROUGH ROAD. MY FRIEND OWNS A 2007 MODEL AND HIS DOES THE SAME THING. MINE OCCURS ALMOST DAILY WHEN TRANSITIONING HOME FROM WORK OVER A PARTICULAR STRETCH OF ROAD. I WILL BE GLAD TO TESTIFY. I ALSO SENT A COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305613February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AFTER HITTING A LARGE POTHOLE OR BUMP. I THOUGHT IT WAS HOW THEY NORMALLY WORKED ON THE PRIUS AS IT IS A VERY LIGHT CAR. HOWEVER, I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND HAVE SINCE LEARNED OF THE RECALL (OR PENDING RECALL) OF THE 2010 PRIUS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305618February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PLEASE INCLUDE PRIUS 2008 AS WELL IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE A 2008 PRIUS. ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, SOMETIMES MORE, WE DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE, OUR CAR JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND JUST LIKE THE 2010 PRIUS THAT IS BEING REPORTED. WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL THE ISSUE WITH THE 2010 PRIUS NEWS CAME OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305628February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I WANTED TO INCLUDE MY VOICE IN THE RECENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES. I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES- THE BRAKES SEEM TO STOP WORKING AND THE SLICK-ROAD WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I GO OVER A BIG BUMP OR POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING. BRAKING COMES RIGHT BACK, BUT I CAN IMAGINE THIS MIGHT BE A BIGGER ISSUE IF THERE WAS A VEHICLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, ETC. I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE ONLY MENTION THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL YEAR, SO I WANTED TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THE 2008 PRIUS ALSO SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED... THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305571February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I HAD ALSO HAD ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE OVER UNEVEN SPEED BUMPS OR METAL CONNECTIONS IN BRIDGES (I DO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE CONNECTORS). ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING ON THE BRIDGE I STARTED TO BRAKE SINCE THE UPCOMING STOPLIGHT HAD TURNED RED. TRYING TO SLOW MY CAR DOWN (SINCE I WAS DRIVING A STREET, I WAS NOT GOING FAST IN THE FIRST PLACE), I PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL AS I WAS GOING OVER THE METAL BRIDGE CONNECTORS AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. IT WAS IF I WAS DRIVING ON ICE. THERE WAS A CAR AHEAD OF ME SO I SLAMMED REAL HARD ON THE BRAKES AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP JUST A FEW INCHES BEHIND THE OTHER CAR SO I DID NOT HIT IT. IT WAS REAL CLOSE CALL. I HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WHEN I GO OVER SPEED BUMPS (AND I AM GOING SLOWLY OVER THE BUMPS). IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE BRAKES TO TAKE EFFECT. SO I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY RELATED TO THE NEWER 2010 PRIUS MODEL. AS DISCUSSED, I HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH MY OLDER 2008 PRIUS. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I BELIEVE THE STICKY PEDAL PROBLEM CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON JAPANESE MADE TOYOTAS (SUCH AS THE PRIUS). IF YOU LOOK UP "STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL" ON THE INTERNET, YOU WILL FIND THE SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED WITH THE PRIUS TOO. HOWEVER, LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS STICKY PEDAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305589February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, POWER TRAIN
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH SURGES AHEAD WHEN I AM BRAKING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS: WET, UNEVEN SURFACES, AND BUMPY ROADS. IT IS SCARY BECAUSE I NEARLY HIT SOMEONE AT A STOP SIGN AND I FEEL OUT OF CONTROL WHEN IT DOES THIS. ON AVERAGE, HAPPENS 1-2X WEEK. IT HAPPENS WHEN MY FOOT IS OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND I AM UNDER 20 MPH. IT SEEMS LIKE A COMPUTER ERROR AND NOT ACCELERATOR RELATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305630February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES, BUMPY STREETS, POTHOLES, RAILROAD TRACKS. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS NORMAL ABS ACTIVATING, BUT LONGER AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING FOR A FEW SECONDS. DEALER INFORMED ME THIS IS BY DESIGN. ALL MY OTHER CARS (WITH ABS) DO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS IN THE SAME CONDITIONS. INCIDENT REPEATED DAILY DURING MY COMMUTE. I HAVE TO DRIVE MUCH SLOWER BECAUSE OF THIS AND I WANT THIS FIXED SINCE IF IT'S BY DESIGN THEN ITS A BAD DESIGN!!! NOTE THIS IS ON A GEN2 PRIUS, 2008 MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305550February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THEY WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25000. UPDATED 03/09/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH SPORADICALLY, WHICH ONLY OCCURRED WHEN STOPPING. UPDATED 06/11/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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