Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10312748February 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SPORT EDITION. ONE EVENING ON MY WAY HOME I GOT PULLED OVER FOR HAVING A HEADLIGHT OUT. THAT EVENING AFTER GOING HOME, I GOT IN MY CAR TO HEAD BACK OUT AND MY WIFE FOLLOWED ME INTO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED AS I WAS PULLING OUT THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE BOTH ON. THAT IS WHAT ALERTED ME TO THE PROBLEM WHICH IS THAT MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN ONE GOES OUT I CAN USUALLY GET IT TO COME BACK ON BY TURNING MY LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE WORST CASE OF THIS IS THAT ONE EVENING AFTER LEAVING MY IN-LAWS HOUSE I HAD TO TURN ON MY BRIGHT LIGHTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE STREETLIGHTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AS SOON AS I TURNED ON MY BRIGHTS, BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. IT WAS INSTANTLY DARK AND I HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS. IT TOOK ME A SECOND TO REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I TURNED MY LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORKED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR ONE OF MY LIGHTS TO GO OUT ON A DAILY BASIS. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE MINE FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS (HTTP://TINYURL.COM/YECDLAE) I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THE GUY THERE BASICALLY TOLD ME ASIDE THAT I COULD GET THE BULB REPLACED BUT JUST BETWEEN US THAT WASN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID MY BEST BET WAS TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND HOPE FOR A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312793February 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS. THE LAST 3 MONTHS MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERED, AND GONE OUT. I REC'D A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006-2009 PRIUS'. REPLACING THEM WILL COST $300 +, I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THIS WEBSITE, AND THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT! IF THIS IS A TOYOTA DEFECT, WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR THESE BULBS? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312798February 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 PRIUS TO SONOMA FOR THE WEEKEND BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK SIMULTANEOUSLY!! THIS LEFT ME DRIVING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS AT 60MPH AND MY 5 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT! IT WAS TERRIFYING FOR THAT SECOND IN WHICH I HAD NO LIGHT SOURCE WHATSOEVER. NO STREETLIGHTS, NO HEADLIGHTS, NOT EVEN ANY MOONLIGHT! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH AS I WAS ON UNFAMILIAR ROADS AND I HAD TO TURN MY LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TO GET ANY SOURCE OF LIGHT! I HOPE SOMEONE AT THIS AGENCY IS PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM OUT THERE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312811February 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHEN I DRIVE MY 2007 PRIUS TO WORK, I PASS BY 101 SOUTH TO 110 SOUTH FREEWAY. AT THAT CURVE, THERE IS A LITTLE BUMP, WHEN I DRIVE ABOUT 30 MPH AT THAT BUMPY SPOT, I EXPERIENCED FOUR TIMES LOST MY BREAKING SYSTEM FOR A SECOND OR TWO. (WHENEVER I LOOSE BRAKING SYSTEM BRAKE LIGHT COME ON FOR A SECOND OR TWO) ONE TINE I HAD NEARLY MISS THE CAR IN FRONT. WHENEVER I DRIVE THAT SPOT I AM SLOWING DOWN TO 20 MPH. 2007 PRIUS DEFINITELY HAS BRAKING PROBLEMS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY PRIUS. I NEED HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312879February 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
PRIUS 2007, FAILED TO STOP AT VERY LOW SPEED. WITH A GUEST INSIDE MY CAR, I DROVE OVER A RAILROAD TRACK. THERE WAS A STREET LIGHT UP FRONT, AND A COUPLE OF CARS AHEAD OF MINE. AS I PRESSED MY BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. MY CAR REAR ENDED THE FRONT CAR, AND MY INSURANCE WAS CHARGED FOR IT. INDEED, I HAD NO IDEA THE PRIUS COULD HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM. TO MAKE IT LESS EXPENSIVE FOR MY FUTURE INSURANCE, I DID NOT HAD MY FRONT BUMPER REPLACED, AND THE DRIVER SIDE OUTSIDE MIRROR PLASTIC COVER, THINKING THAT PERHAPS THE INSURANCE WOULD NOT GO UP. NOW I HAVE A DOUBLED CAR INSURANCE PAYMENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 21, 2009. I TOOK MY CAR ON THE 26 MAY 2009 FOR A 40 MILES MAINTENANCE PAID IN ADVANCE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE BRAKES WERE ALSO CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. I TOOK MY CAR AGAIN FEB 20, 2010, AGAIN, NO PROBLEMS FOUND. TODAY I AM RELUCTANT, ON MY MIND, IF THE PRIUS WILL STOP OR NOT WHEN BRAKES A PRESSED. CAR WAS PURCHASE ON FEBRUARY 2007. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312607February 22, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES, TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. WE ARE BRAKING, AND WHILST BRAKING DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR DRAIN. THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON, AND THE CAR DISENGAGES THE BRAKES AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. AFTER CLEARING THE POTHOLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL THEN DISENGAGES, AND THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGE. SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. CONDITIONS: CLEAR, SUNNY, DRY ROADS. CAR: TOYOTA PRIUS, YEAR 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312448February 21, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ABS, VSC, BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312338February 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST OBSERVED ON PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES AND NOW FAILING ON DRIVER SIDE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT 54,000 MILES. I TURN THE SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN; IT WOULD WORK FOR AWHILE BUT WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I USE THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE FAILURE FREQUENCY IS INCREASING. THESE EXPANSIVE HID HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT RELIABLE AND PUT OCCUPANTS AT EXTREME RISK WHILE DRIVING ON DARK ROADWAYS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS THAT WILL FAIL AGAIN SHORTLY. STANDARD, INEXPENSIVE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ARE MORE RELIABLE AND HAVE LONGER LIFE. THESE HID HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA AND REPLACED WITH DEPENDABLE HID HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311681February 18, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HID LIGHTS JUST TURN OFF FOR NO REASON. IT IS RANDOM. IT IS A GREAT DANGER WHEN IT IS DARK AND THE LIGHTS JUST GO OFF. WE ARE IN A RURAL AREA SO THERE ARE NO LIGHTS NEAR THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENS. AT THIS POINT IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON THEY COME BACK. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS AND WANTS TO SPEND OVER $1000.00 IN TRIAL FIXES.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311704February 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1. SAFETY ' WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD IN DARIEN (WEST AVENUE NEAR THE TRAIN STATION) LAST YEAR THE PRIUS BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THE SPEED WAS LOW (ABOUT 5MPH), THE RESULTANT ACCIDENT DAMAGED ITS FRONT END AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. 2. DRIVABILITY AND SAFETY ' THE CRUISE CONTROL HOLDS THE MINIMUM SPEED BUT ALLOWS OVER SPEED CONDITIONS. WHILE RETURNING FROM DANBURY ON ROUTE 7 THE CRUISE CONTROL HOLDS 40MPH UNTIL GOING DOWNHILL. ON DOWNHILL SLOPES THE SPEED INCREASES AND INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND APPLY THE BRAKES. 3. DRIVABILITY ' DURING COLD WEATHER THE MAIN BATTERY ACCEPTS A CHARGE BUT DOES NOT RETURN MUCH ENERGY TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM. THE MILEAGE DECREASES BY 10-15MPG. TOYOTA OF STAMFORD REFUSED TO DO A FREE SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311574February 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, AT ABOUT 30 MPH THE PRIUS ENGINE FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT MAXIMUM RATE. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT ON SLOWING THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN RUNNING THROUGH A MAJOR INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, COASTING TO A STOP, AND PUSHING THE POWER BUTTON. AFTER WAITING 2 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND RAN WITH A PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED ONCE IN SEPTEMBER 2009. TOYOTA'S REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE FLOOR MATS, HOWEVER, THE FLOOR MAT WAS SECURED TO THE CARPET AND WAS VERIFIED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THAT IT WAS FAR FROM INTERFERING WITH THE GAS PEDAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311240February 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I HAVE OWED BOTH A 2005 AND 2007 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO PROBLEMS WITH BOTH VEHICLES THAT ARE A SAFETY CONCERN, ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT HAS RESULTED FROM THESE PROBLEMS. 1) IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, WHEN TRAVELING UP AN INCLINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CAN TURN OFF POWER TO BOTH DRIVE WHEELS WITH THE RESULT THAT THE CAR CAN NOT MAKE IT UP THE HILL. GRANTED THIS CAN HAPPEN EVEN TO A MORE CONVENTIONAL CAR, BUT THE PRIUS DOES THIS UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN OTHER CARS HAVE NO PROBLEM NEGOTIATING THE HILL. THE OWNERS MANUAL CLAIMS THAT THIS IS TO PROTECT THE ELECTRIC ENGINE, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERRIDE OF SOME SORT THAT ALLOWS THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTOR TO TURN THE WHEELS WHEN TRACTION IS POOR. THIS SYSTEM HAS ALSO LED TO CIRCUMSTANCES IN PARKING LOTS DURING SNOW, WHERE IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE CAR EVEN THOUGH OTHER CONVENTIONAL CARS ARE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE SNOW WITHOUT A PROBLEM. 2) IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE PRIUS MUST MERGE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC FOR INSTANCE WHEN TURNING INTO BUSY TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION, IF YOU FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR INITIAL ACCELERATES, BUT THEN THE ACCELERATION FADES DRAMATICALLY, BEFORE IT RESURGES. THIS CAN BE CIRCUMVENTED BY NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL SO HARD, HOWEVER, THE INSTINCT IS TO STEP ON THE GAS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS NOT ONLY HAIR-RAISING WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT ALSO COULD LEAD ON AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311285February 17, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OUT AT RANDOM INTERVALS -- IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE BALLAST CONTROLLING THE LIGHTS. THE FAILURE HAPPENS CONSTANTLY -- PROBABLY AT LEAST EVERY FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ONE HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES BOTH. IT CAN BE "FIXED" TEMPORARILY BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, ONLY TO REPEAT ITSELF SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE SYSTEM ARE EXTREMELY PROHIBITIVE ($1,000), AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND HAD BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON A DARKENED HIGHWAY, WHICH IS TERRIFYING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311400February 17, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER ANY POTHOLES IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS OF OVER 10 MPH, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEY WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKES FELT AS IF THEY WERE "LOCKING." THE MANUFACTURER AND A LOCAL DEALER WERE CONTACTED, BOTH OF WHICH WERE NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,400. UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/10/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311405February 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS IN MY 2007 PRIUS SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED BY OWNERS OF SOME 2010 PRIUSES (HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/HTDOCS/PDF/020410_TOYOTA.PDF). I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE TREATED IT AS A QUIRK OF THAT PARTICULAR CAR. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALL AND SOFTWARE FIX FOR 2010 MODELS, I INQUIRED OF MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT A SOFTWARE FIX FOR MY '07 MODEL. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL OF THE '07S AND THEREFORE THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I LIVE ATOP A HILL, AND THE ROAD COMING DOWN IT IS OFTEN BUMPY, CAUSING THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. BUT WE ARE USED TO IT BY NOW AND KNOW TO BEGIN BRAKING EXTRA EARLY ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD, BUT IF THERE IS AN AVAILABLE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WANT TOYOTA TO PROVIDE IT SOONEST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310743February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
WHEN BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER POTHOLES, SPEED BUMPS, MANHOLE COVERS, OR ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD, CAR LURCHES FORWARD, AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT THAT MOMENT, IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT FLASHES TELLING DRIVER CAR HAS LOST TRACTION WITH ROAD. IT OCCURS EVERY SINGLE TIME THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, MANHOLE COVER, OR ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. HAVE COME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING AN INDIVIDUAL IN FRONT OF ME AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THERE WAS A BUMP AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, AND WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE AND TOLD BRAKES ARE FINE, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TAKING BACK AGAIN TO HAVE SERVICE TECHNICIAN RIDE WITH US SO WE CAN DEMONSTRATE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310766February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS. NEWS REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CONFINED TO THE 2010 MODEL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENT WITH OUR 2007 MODEL PRIUS. IN JUNE OF 2009 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR PRIUS DOWN A HILL APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND THE PAVEMENT WAS WET, BUT THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER ON THE ROAD SURFACE. THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AS WE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 35 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD DOWN THE HILL WITH NO BRAKING ACTION AND NO DECELERATION. I HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SPEED UP TO TRY GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNED RED. THE LIGHT DID TURN RED JUST BEFORE WE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH BEFORE ANY OPPOSING TRAFFIC ENTERED THE INTERSECTION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT DURING THIS INCIDENT THE CAR SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF BEING IN A SKID - - IT SIMPLY MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT ANY SWERVING. FURTHERMORE, THERE WAS NO VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL NOR ANY SOUNDS THAT MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ACTION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THERE COULD BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO WAY TO CHECK THAT. WE HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS BEHAVIOR MAY RECUR BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT BRAKING ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310789February 16, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
MY WIFE HAS A 2007 PRIUS, ON WHICH WE RUN DUNLOP GRASPICS SNOW TIRES, 185/65R15, IN THE WINTER, ON ALL 4 CORNERS. WE HAVE RUN THE GRASPICS ON A DODGE CARAVAN, FORD MUSTANG, AND ACURA RSX, WITH GOOD RESULTS, ON SNOWY / ICY ROADS. ANYWAY, WE WERE IN CANADA, DECEMBER 6, 2008, BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY, TEMP ABOUT 6 DEG. F. ROADS IN THE CITY HAD 1 - 2 INCHES OF SNOW, WITH ENOUGH SALT TO MAKE A NICE GREASY MIXTURE, (TOO COLD TO MELT THE SNOW). I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE MAKING A LEFT TURN. FROM FULL STOP, AND THERE WERE SOME ON COMING CARS BUT A DISTANCE AWAY, I GENTLY STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MAKE THE TURN - NOTHING - OKAY THE TRAFFIC A LITTLE CLOSER, BUT STILL A LONG WAYS AWAY. I GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS, AND MAYBE WE ARE MOVING. FINALLY IT IS CREEPING ACROSS, AND WE COMPLETE THE LEFT TURN WITH NO BENT SHEET METAL. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, AND WITH NO ONE ELSE IN THE PRIUS, I DID SOME EXPERIMENTING. THE TRACTION CONTROL APPEARS TO WORK TOO WELL. IT SEEMS TO ALLOW NO SLIPPAGE, AND THERE IS NO FEELING OF FORWARD PROGRESS, OR THAT THE TIRES ARE EVEN TRYING. I DID FIND SOME SIMILAR COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT DAMAGE TO THE PRIUS DRIVETRAIN THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW NO SLIPPAGE. THE PERSON ON THE PHONE AT TOYOTA SAID THAT IF THE TIRES SPUN AND THEN GOT TRACTION, THERE MAY BE DAMAGE RESULTING IN A $6000 REPAIR BILL. I SAID, %$#@ THE $6000; I HAD 4 PEOPLE IN A CAR THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AT SNOWY INTERSECTIONS. I ASKED TO TALK TO SOME ONE ELSE AND GOT NO DIFFERENT ANSWER, EXCEPT THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED SIMILAR CALLS, AND THE ONLY ADVICE WAS TO USE SNOW TIRES. NO DEATHS OR INJURIES. NO FIRE NO CRASH. NOT REPORTED TO POLICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310810February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE LOSS SLIGHT CONTROL AND SKIDDED. SUDDENLY, THE SKID CONTROL WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, AND POTHOLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310818February 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. I TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN THE HOUSE. WHEN I CAME OUT IT HAD GONE INTO MY GARAGE DOOR AND DAMAGED THE FRONT END AND THE GARAGE DOOR. OBVIOUSLY ACCELERATED AFTER BEING SHUT DOWN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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