Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10305014February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 PRIUS: TEMPORARY SURGE IN ACCELERATION WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD. "TRACTION" LIGHT COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BUT NOT DAILY. SAME EXPERIENCE AS IS BEING DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS TODAY (2-3-10) IN RELATION TO THE 2010 PRIUS. TOYOTA REPORTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS YEARS' MODELS, BUT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304106February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED ON 2008 PRIUS, CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO CAR AHEAD, WHICH IN TURN WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF IT. WIFE DRIVING, GRANDDAUGHTER IN BACK SEAT. REPORTED TO TOYOTA, WHICH INVESTIGATED AND CLAIMED NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. $16000 REPAIR TAB. SAME SYNDROME (NO BRAKES) IN SAME CAR ENCOUNTERED BY HUSBAND LAST MONTH (JAN 2010). ACCIDENT AVOIDED DUE TO CAR AHEAD PULLING OUT. CAR TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO KEPT IT A WEEK, REPORTED NO TROUBLE FOUND. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304133February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2008 PRIUS BRAKE SLIPPAGE- NOT THE 2009 PRIUS, BUT 2008. RECURRENT SLIPPAGE WHEN IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, USUALLY AFTER HITTING A PEBBLE OR A SLICK AREA (EVEN JUST WATER)...OCCURS APPROX ONCE/MONTH. NEWS STORIES TODAY ONLY REFERENCING THE LATEST MODEL, AND IT IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM IN MY 2008 CAR. NO ACCIDENTS YET, BUT ALWAYS A BIT ALARMING. OTHERWISE LOVE MY PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304112February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES DID NOT WORK UPON STARTING VEHICLE ONE DAY. NO WARNING, JUST NO BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER (50 MILES) AND THE "LINEAR SOLENOID VALVE" WAS "REINITIALIZED". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304240February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE DURING WET CONDITIONS AND APPLIES THE BRAKES THE REAR TIRES WILL LOCK AND THEN RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS CLEANED. THE FAILURE IS STILL OCCURING. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46000, FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27000. UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPADTED 08/24/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304233February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKE A LOW SPEEDS IT DOES NOT APPLY THE BRAKE IT SEEMS TO LOCK UP THE BRAKE BUT NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I WILL RELEASE THE BRAKE AND REAPPLY THE BRAKE UNTIL I GET THE DESIRED REACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304336February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED NEW. HE STATED WHILE BRAKING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK FORWARD. THIS INCIDENT WAS DESCRIBED AS, THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAILING AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THEN WOULD CATCH ITSELF.THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER 15-20 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WERE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304409February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE AN EXTREMELY OVER-AGGRESSIVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING OVER ICE, BUMPY ROADS OR EVEN POTHOLES AND PRESSING THE BRAKES, THE ABS SYSTEM DISENGAGES THE BRAKES ON ALL WHEELS IF EVEN ONE OF THEM MOMENTARILY SLIPS. THIS IS MOST EGREGIOUS WHEN THE CAUSE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AS TRACTION IS NOT IN QUESTION FOR ANY OF THE TIRES (AS IT MIGHT BE ON ICE). THE EFFECT IS THAT THE BRAKES TEMPORARILY CEASE OPERATING, WHICH CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS (BUT NO CRASHES YET). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304384February 3, 2010
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 DRIVING OVER POTHOLES OR WET PAVEMENT, IT'S HARDER TO STEER OR BRAKE THAN I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN ANOTHER CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 15 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304386February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS - BRAKES SLIP WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY ON WET ROADS OR ON ROADS WITH BUMPS (INCLUDING MANHOLE COVERS). THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, SAID THAT THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NO ANOMALIES. I READ TODAY THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED ON NEW (2009-2010) TOYOTA PRIUS MODELS, AND THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAD ORDERED TOYOTA TO INVESTIGATE. HOWEVER THE ARTICLE SAID THAT TOYOTA WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH OLDER VEHICLES. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL EXTEND ITS INVESTIGATION TO SERIES 2 PRIUS MODELS (2004-2008) AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304478February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BRAKES FAIL IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN OVER EVEN A VERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. BRAKE FAILURE IS VERY SPORADIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304565February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I WAS DRIVING A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 50 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP, AND WHEN I DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR KEPT GOING, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I JAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR THAT THE BRAKES SEEM TO ENGAGE, BUT BY THAT TIME, I HAD ALREADY COLLIDED WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ON A SEPARATE INSTANCE, ONE YEAR AGO, THE CAR FAILED TO STOP WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND INSTEAD ACCELERATED INTO MY PARKING SPACE, OVER THE CONCRETE BLOCK IN FRONT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND INTO THE WALL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304601February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I BOUGHT NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP IN RIVERHEAD, NY. THE CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY STOP WORKING WHEN I TRY TO STOP ON A SLIPPERY OR BUMPY SURFACE. IF I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FORCEFULLY, THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY STOP, BUT THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS AT LEAST 2 TO 3 TIMES WHAT IT IS UNDER OTHER (NORMAL) ROAD CONDITIONS. I AM A CERTIFIED NYS DRIVER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR IN MY MID 60'S AND HAVE NEVER RUN INTO THIS SITUATION IN ANY OTHER CAR MODEL I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AS I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR CHECKED SINCE I THOUGHT I WAS PERHAPS JUST SKIDDING, BUT TODAY I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER DRIVERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 PRIUS. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE 2008 MODEL AS WELL. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF ANY ACTION I SHOULD BE TAKING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304784February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BRAKE FAILURE ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN, SO FAR ABOUT 20-30 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR (JUNE 08). I WILL BEGIN BRAKING WITH THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES WILL LOSE PRESSURE AND IT DOES NOT BRAKE, ONLY TO REGAIN THE BRAKING ABILITY ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER. THIS MOSTLY OCCURS IN WET WEATHER AND I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED A FEW CRASHES BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IT IS NOT A FUNCTION OF SLIDING ON THE WET PAVEMENT BUT THE BRAKE FAILING MOMENTARILY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF MY PROBLEM BUT THAT I COULD TAKE THEM FOR A DRIVE AND HOPE THAT THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE THEY WERE IN THE CAR. I DID NOT PURSUE THIS SINCE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN REGULARLY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO OTHER FIXES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304848February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A BRAKE PROBLEM ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS AN APPARENT MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN HITTING A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS APPARENT ON AN EARLIER 2002 PRIUS. IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT IT IS WORRISOME. IT HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY AND REPRODUCIBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304839February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 I HAD AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING MY 2008 PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON 295 NEAR RICHMOND, VA, TRAFFIC CAME TO A TOTAL STOP NEAR THE VIRGINIA BEACH EXIT. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIT THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER SEEING THE TRAFFIC STOPPING, I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I ALSO DID NOT FEEL THE ABS ENGAGE. NATURALLY, I WAS CHARGED WITH CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. WHEN THE PRIUS WAS REPAIRED (~$12,000), I REQUESTED TOYOTA TO CHECK FOR A FAILURE OF THE ABS. THEY REPORTED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER ANY MALFUNCTION. I AM SUBMITTING THIS NOW AFTER HEARING THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT THE PRIUS HAS HAD REPORTED BRAKE PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT MY ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE PRIUS' BRAKES FAILING TO STOP IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE, NOT EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT, BUT THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT STOP WHEN I BRAKED VERY HARD. I HAD NO VISIBLE OR TACTILE INDICATION THAT THE ABS HAD ENGAGED. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304808February 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID LAMPS IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. AFTER BEING PULLED OVER BY AN OFFICER FOR AN OUT HEADLIGHT, I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT WOULD SHUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY INCREASED IN FREQUENCY. ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS NOW GOES OUT ABOUT EVERY 20 MINUTES; A COUPLE OF TIMES THEY BOTH HAVE SHUT OFF AT THE SAME TIME. I KEEP MY LIGHTS OFF DURING THE DAY, BUT THIS HAS NOT HELPED THE PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT GET A TICKET FROM THE OFFICER, AND EVEN LUCKIER TO NOT WRECK ON THE PITCH BLACK ROAD WHEN THEY BOTH SHUT OFF AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304804February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR REGULARLY LOSES BRAKING ABILITY AND SURGES FORWARD AFTER HITTING POTHOLES. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL READING THE NEWS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304858February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKES APPEAR TO STOP WORKING OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE BRAKING WHILE HITTING A POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. IT LASTS FOR ONLY A SPLIT SECOND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304864February 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
HEADLIGHTS ON TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 STARTED DIMMING AND GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT 50,000 MILES. LIGHTS WILL GO BACK ON WHEN TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED 3 TIMES BY THE POLICE FOR A HEADLIGHT OUT AND BEEN LET GO WITH A WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON ON DRY ROADS AND BRAKES ARE SLOW TO ENGAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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