Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10297878January 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PRIUS IS 2 YEARS OLD. DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLAMP FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. NOTE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE RE: HID HEADLAMP FAILURE. TOYOTA OFFERED TO INSTALL A NEW BULB WITHOUT CHARGE FOR THE PART (NORMALLY $150 DOLLARS) BUT INSISTED ON CHARGING $93 LABOR. 93 DOLLARS TO CHANGE A BULB? A BULB THAT SHOULD LAST FOR MANY, MANY YEARS? WHEN WILL TOYOTA ADMIT TO A DEFECT? I PAID EXTRA FOR HID HEADLAMPS FOR THIS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297690December 31, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON; THE HEADLIGHT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN A 10 MILE STRETCH. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. MY PARKING LIGHTS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297440December 29, 2009
SUSPENSION
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS LEANS TO LEFT 3/4 ". IT IS VISIBLY NOTICEABLE AND SITS EVEN LOWER WITH DRIVER OCCUPANT. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS WITHIN SPECS AND IS SAFE. THEY WON'T REPLACE SPRINGS ON LEFT SIDE OR COILS. MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WE PAID A LOT FOR AND THEY STILL WON'T FIX VEHICLE. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE CAN IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297205December 28, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS STOPS WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IF I TURN OFF AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS AGAIN, THEY WORK FINE FOR FEW MINUTES AND SUDDENLY STOP WORKING AGAIN. SINCE THE LIGHTS STOPS WORKING RANDOMLY, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ALONE IN REMOTE ROADS THAT DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE STREET LIGHTING. I REQUEST NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE INTO THIS PROMPTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296952December 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FAIL (TURN OFF) FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON WILL RESTORE THE HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONING. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE ONCE FOR THIS, AND HAVE NOTICED IT NOW ON MY OWN MANY TIMES SINCE; ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297030December 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM MRS. JUDY HALEY GIZMO DISPUTING CLAIM BY TOYOTA THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. *NJ THE CONSUMER DISPUTED TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT THE MANY CASES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WERE DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRASH SHE HAD WAS NOT DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MAT'S WHICH WERE LATCHED DOWN, BUT WAS DUE TO ACCELERATION/BRAKE PROBLEMS IN THE COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BACKED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SHE EXITED THE GARAGE AND PRESSED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR. AFTER CLOSING THE GARAGE DOOR, SHE SATED SHE WASN'T SURE IF SHE PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL, BUT SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD GOING UP TO 15-20 MPH. WITHIN 5 SECONDS THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR, RAMMED INTO THE INSIDE KITCHEN WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10296102December 16, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY TURNS OFF. CAR ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS SECOND HEADLIGHT TO GO THROUGH THIS PROBLEM. FIRST OCCURRED AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT COSTS UPWARDS OF $300+. FIRST LIGHT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND, THE DEALER SIMPLY TOLD ME TO "PINCH PENNIES." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295598December 14, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295969December 11, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ELECTRIC THROTTLE PROBLEM ON THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. *NJ THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MATS. THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE HAS CONTACTED HER REGARDING A REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295358December 11, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (NON-TOURING) -- HID HEADLAMP AUTO TURN OFF NOTICED THAT UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME ONE EVENING FROM WORK, THAT ONLY MY PASSENGER HEADLAMP WAS WORKING. HOWEVER I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, THE DRIVER BULB WAS CLEARLY ON AND WORKING PROPERLY. SINCE THEN AND IN SEEMINGLY INCREASING FREQUENCY, I HAVE BEEN KEEPING NOTICE OF THIS MATTER AND IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVER HID HEADLAMP TURNS OFF AT LEAST EVERY OTHER TRIP HOME FROM WORK DURING THE EVENING. TURNING ALL LIGHTS OFF AND IMMEDIATELY BACK ON CORRECTS THE ISSUE UNLESS DONE TOO FAST. AND AFTER DOING SO THE DRIVER SIDE IS NOT AS BRIGHT FOR SOME 5-10 MINUTE PERIOD OF TIME. HOWEVER, AFTER THE HIDS HAVE BEEN OFF OVER NIGHT AND DURING MOST OF THE DAY (WHILE PARKED) THEY BOTH TURN ON AND APPEAR TO BE AT NEARLY THE SAME BRIGHTNESS UNTIL THE DRIVER HID HEADLAMP JUST UP AND TURNS OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE TURN OFF IS RARELY ASSOCIATED WITH A MAJOR BUMP OR OTHER ROAD OBSTRUCTION BUT THE LAMP RARELY STAYS ON WHEN ENCOUNTERING SUCH THINGS (ROCKS, BUMPS, CHIPPED ROAD SURFACE, ETC), BUT IN GENERAL IT JUST TURNS OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO WITHOUT ANY DETECTABLE REASON. FIRST NOTICED ON OR AROUND NOV 20, 2008 BUT IN THE PAST YEAR THE PROBLEM HAS GROWN IN FREQUENCY TO MAYBE ONCE EVERY 4-5 WEEKS TO NOW ONCE EVERY 2-3 DAYS. I TRAVEL APPROX. 65 MILES EACHDAY ROUND TRIP TO WORK AND IT IS GENERALLY DUSK OR NIGHTFALL WHEN I RETURN HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295160December 9, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LED BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS TOO BRIGHT. BLIND DRIVER BEHIND VEHICLE AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294975December 8, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEAD LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. SINCE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, HE COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295018December 8, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN A VERY RURAL SETTING! I WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON BY TURNING OFF/ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. YET, ONLY ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. AS MY CAR HAS 49,000 MILES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS HAD A SHORT IN THEM. YET I THOUGHT THE BULBS WERE TO BE LONGLASTING? ALSO, IT WAS A SAFETY FACTOR THAT THEY BOTH WENT OUT AT NIGHT! I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS ON BLOGS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. CAN YOU HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! FINALLY, THE REPAIR COST FOR THE LIGHTS WAS ENORMOUS! IT WAS $254 PER LIGHT TO BE FIXED! I AM JUST BLESSED THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR IN A BUSY INTERSECTION OR WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294824December 7, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED ON THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH WITH A HEAVY TRUCK. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, THE ENGINEERS ADMITTED THERE WAS AN ACTUAL BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,400. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 1/4/10 *CN THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE MACHINED. UPDATED 01/06/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294497December 4, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY CUT OUT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND FLIPPED THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. IN DOING THIS, BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND REMAINED ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TRIP. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT, BUT CAME BACK ON AFTER I FLIPPED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS SAME HEADLIGHT ISSUE ON A DAILY BASIS, THOUGH IT IS TYPICALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT THAT GOES OUT. I FIRST CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO MERELY CHANGE THE BULB. HOWEVER, I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM FURTHER, AND CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE HAD OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AND THAT THE LIGHT WILL ACTUALLY BURN SO HOT, THAT A MECHANISM SHUTS THEM DOWN, SO THAT IT DOESN'T BURN UP A SENSOR. THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BECAUSE THE BULBS SHOULD LAST LONGER, HOWEVER THEY DO NOT PLAN TO ISSUE A RECALL AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294405December 3, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. DID NOT WORK AT ALL AFTER TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF. I WAS TRAVELING FOR WORK (ABOUT 2000 MILES OF DRIVING OVER 4 DAYS) AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO EITHER REPAIR THE PROBLEM MYSELF OR TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. DURING THE 4 DAYS OF DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILING AS WELL, INTERMITTENTLY, LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. IF I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON, THE PASSENGER SIDE WORKED, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE STILL DIDN'T. THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON FOR HOURS AFTER CYCLING THE POWER, SO IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE A RANDOM INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, NOT DUE TO OVERHEATING OR BULB LIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294164December 1, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED , AND THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. SHE HAS CALLED THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURED, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLOOR-MATS CAUSED THE FAILURE. SHE WAS WAITING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO CALL HER BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293988November 30, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TOYOTA PRIUS 2008, DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AT 29K MILES <2 YEARS OF USE, DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TELL DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHETHER IT'S A WARRANTY REPAIR; BULB PRICING RANGES FROM $30 TO $350; SANDY SPRINGS TOYOTA SOLD US THE WRONG PART; OWNER'S MANUAL GIVES WRONG INSTRUCTIONS: THE LIGHT BULB CASING LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE DIAGRAM; SOME ONLINE SOURCES CITE A TOTAL COST + LABOR $1700; SOME DON'T RECOMMEND DOWNGRADING TO A NON-HID BULB; SOME SAY THAT THE VOLTAGE IS VERY HIGH AND POSES RISK OF ELECTROCUTION WHEN REPLACING AT HOME; *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293806November 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHEN I BRAKE FOR A BUMP OR POTHOLE, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN THE FRONT TIRES HITS THE BUMP OR POTHOLE. I MUST HIT THE BRAKES HARDER IN ORDER TO SLOW. THIS OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY, I NOTICE THIS ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS ACCELERATION ON A BUMP RECENTLY OCCURRED WHEN THERE WAS A CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, I BARELY MISSED HITTING THE CAR. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FLOOR MAT. THE FLOOR MAT IS PROPERLY SECURE, MOREOVER IT ONLY HAPPENS IN THIS SITUATION (I.E., THE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT INVISIBLY GET IN THE WAY WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND MAGICALLY GO BACK INTO PLACE ALL THE OTHER TIME.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293510November 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OFF AND ON HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS ON 2008 PRIUS WITH NEARLY 23,000 MILES. SINCE OCTOBER 2009 MY RIGHT SIDE HID HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS OFF. TO GET THE HEADLIGHT WORKING AGAIN I HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF, WAIT A MINUTE, THEN TURN THE CAR BACK ON. ONCE THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT WILL STAY ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TRIP AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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