Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10290725November 2, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS KEEPS GOING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290522November 1, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND ULTIMATELY WOULD FLICKER OFF AT NIGHT LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTS. IF WE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AT A COST TO US OF OVER 600 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290370October 30, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAD A HEADLIGHT GO OUT. BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD COME ON WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND THEN FADE OUT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AT NIGHT. I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE ONE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED ONE BULB. IT LASTED A WEEK AND THEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. I AGAIN TURNED THE LGITHTS OFF AND ON AND THE CAME BACK ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?SOURCEID=NAVCLIENT&AQ=2H&OQ=&IE=UTF-8&RLZ=1T4GGIK_ENUS283US283&Q=PRIUS+HEADLIGHT+PROBLEMS. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WHO IS TO SAY THAT SOMEONE HASN'T BEEN KILLED ALREADY. ARE THERE ANY UNEXPLAINED PRIUS ACCIDENTS RUNNING OFF THE ROAD FOR NO REASON? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290088October 28, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON OCTOBER 28, 2009 BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN THE HEAD-LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289924October 27, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AND SOMETIMES IT WILL COME BACK ON WITH ME TURNING OFF THE ON THE HEADLIGHT. MY WIFE TODAY HAD THE LIGHT TURN OFF AND THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THEN ON BUT THE LIGHT STAYED OFF. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 55 MILES TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN REDDING CA. UPON READING THE PRIUS CHAT SITE I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PRIUS'S WITH HID LIGHTS. THIS I FEEL IS A FACTORY PROBLEM AND SHOULD NOT COST ME ANYTHING TO FIX. THANKS DENNIS SWOPE *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289907October 26, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM NOT BEING MELODRAMATIC WHEN I SAY THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE TODAY. MY 2008 PRIUS ACCELERATED ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS MERGING ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR SEEMED TO HAVE A LIFE OF ITS OWN AND TOOK OFF AT AN INCREDIBLY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT WOULD NOT STOP, KEPT GETTING FASTER AND FASTER. I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS FINE FOR THE 20 MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THAT EXPRESSWAY. AFTER GETTING OFF AND GETTING INTO CITY TRAFFIC I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. THANK GOD I HAD MY FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE. IT DID NOT BRAKE AWAY ONLY LUNGED 6 - 12 INCHES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289272October 21, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID BULB ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ONLY 40K MILES ON IT, GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IF I TURN MY SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE BULB WILL COME BACK ON, FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $300 TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE HAZARD OF POSSIBLY LOSING THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT BEFORE I CAN GET THE PASSENGER SIDE REPAIRED IS OF GREAT CONCERN. THIS IS A CONTINUING, CONSTANT PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289037October 19, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WORK IN THE FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. I GOT OFF DUTY AND WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WHEN ANOTHER OFFICER NOTIFIED ME THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP WAS NOT OPERABLE. AS A PEACE OFFICER I CAN TESTIFY THAT I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH THE OWNERS OF LATE MODEL PRIUS' PERTAINING TO HEADLAMPS AND TAIL LAMPS BEING INOPERABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THE VEHICLES AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I CAN SAY THAT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FIXED THE ISSUE IMMEDIATELY WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I TOLD THEM I WAS NOT GOING TO PAY THE $300.00 PLUS TO FIX THE ISSUE CONSIDERING IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE LATE MODEL VEHICLES. THE DEALER IS VERY REPUTABLE AND FIXED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE. NOW I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER HEAD LAMP AND HAVING IT REPLACED BEFORE IT GOES OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288827October 18, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND BRAKE REGULATOR FAILED FIRST IN NOVEMBER 2008-- CAR WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. IN ABOUT AUGUST 2009, CHIRPING FRONT END NOISE RETURNED SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENTLY-- NOISE HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT HAPPENS REPEATEDLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED YESTERDAY (10/17/09) AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT IS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT HAS FAILED AGAIN-- TWICE IN LESS THAN 1-1/2 YEARS OF OWNING THE BRAND NEW CAR. VEHICLE MILEAGE AS OF TODAY IS 22,900. THEY HAVE NOT FULLY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND WILL NOT LOOK TO SEE IF THE REGULATOR HAS ALSO FAILED AGAIN UNTIL THEY REPLACE THE ACTUATOR. MEANWHILE, THEY'VE PUT ME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD IN THIS CAR FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL THEY GET THE PART IN. THESE ARE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF COMPONENTS OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THEY DO NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE TRUE ROOT CAUSE-- WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THESE PARTS TO FAIL. THE DEALER HAS ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES IF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT-- NO, IT HAS NOT. EVIDENTLY BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURES IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2004-2007 PRIUS (TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN-- NOT PROACTIVE, BUT "IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS... HERE'S WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT"). IT SEEMS THAT NO SUCH BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2008 MODEL. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH TWO DIFFERENT PARTS (AND MAYBE OTHERS?) OF THE ABS HAVING FAILED REPEATED TIMES. I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TOYOTA'S CAVALIER ATTITUDE ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288869October 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE GOT WATER IN IT BEFORE I EVEN GOT THE CAR AND IT ALSO HAD TWO BENT PISTON RODS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288785October 17, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HD HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OFF AT TIMES. LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, I TRIED THE BRIGHTS BUT THEY DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION AND TURNED OF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT. THIS TIME ONLY ONE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRIGHTS WORKED ONLY ON ONE SIDE. THIS HAPPENED IN AUGUST TOO BUT THEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM. HOWEVER IN THE PAST 3 DAYS THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. THE BULBS ARE NOT BURNT. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS SO IT WAS VERY SCARY WHEN THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF ON THE WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288685October 16, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. SINCE SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 THE DEALER HAS HAD POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE FILED CASE #0910101726 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 7,800.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287111October 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNED TWO OF SAME YEAR AND MODEL. BOTH CARS HAD HEADLIGHT DEFECTS AFTER 30,000 MILES. SAFETY ISSUE AND DEALER STATES THE LIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO GO OUT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HEAD LIGHTS FAIL BEFORE 200,000 MILES. I WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AND MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ARE ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS PER ON LINE RESEARCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286909October 9, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT THE DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE HEADLIGHTS' COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR BOTH EXTERIOR HEAD LAMPS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND BOTH COMPUTER CHIPS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILBLE. UPDATED 10/29/09. *LJ BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/29/09*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286796October 8, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A HID HEADLIGHT ON A 2008 PRIUS THAT APPEARS TO FLICKER AND THEN GOES OUT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY A POLICEMAN. WHEN I START THE CAR AT HOME THE HEADLIGHT COMES ON BRIGHTLY. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE PROBLEM STARTS. REPAIR COST IS VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286665October 7, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE ENTERING THE PARKING GARAGE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE HE NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER "OFF" SWITCH WAS ENGAGED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR DAMAGES FOR EACH VEHICLE WAS $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286686October 7, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMPS, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY BOTH GO OUT RANDOMLY, I HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO GET THEM TO WORK AS MANY AS 5 TIMES AN HOUR OF DRIVING (COMMUTER), THIS PROBLEM REALLY STARTED TO BE AN ISSUE BACK IN MARCH WHEN THE LEFT HEADLAMP CONSISTENTLY KEPT GOING OUT. NOW I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND TOYOTA WILL COVER IT THIS TIME BUT ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS 1 YEAR AND 11 MONTHS OLD I HAVE ALMOST REACHED THE 36,000 MILE LIMITATION. AFTER WHICH THIS REPAIR WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1000.00. I DO HAVE TOYOTA EXTRA CARE WARRANTY FOR 8 YEARS OR 125,000 MILES AND THE WILL NOT COVER SUCH ISSUES EVEN IF THEY ARE DUE TO DEFECTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS BECOMES A CONSISTENT PROBLEM IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I COMMUTE DAILY APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AND I ALWAYS RETURN FROM WORK AT NIGHT. I WILL GET THE OLD SET OF LAMPS BACK FROM THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS IF NEEDED. I REALLY THINK THAT THIS CONCERN SHOULD BE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE BECAUSE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF IT IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286388October 5, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SAFETY ISSUES WITH TOYOTA 2008 PRIUS HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. AFTER LIVING WITH POOR HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION AND OTHER HEADLIGHT ISSUES FOR ABOUT 19 MONTHS, I AM REGISTERING WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES. HEADLIGHTS: 1. NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. 2. CANNOT BE AIMED TO GIVE DISTANCE ILLUMINATION 3. BLINK OFF DRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS, MOSTLY UNRESOLVED, TRIPS TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. 1. IT TOOK TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER, TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE HEADLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD THE ASSEMBLY HAS NO SHIELDING OR SEALS TO PROTECT IT FROM PHYSICAL OR CORROSION DAMAGE 2. AFTER ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENTS, THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO BE AIMED TOO LOW. WITH LOW BEAM THEY ARE SO LOW THAT A PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE, ANIMAL, MORE THAN ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE HIGH BEAM SETTING IS SOMEWHAT BETTER. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH DEER STANDING ON THE ROAD AND SEEING THEM BARELY IN TIME TO AVOID THEM. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE NOT SEEN BICYCLES OR PEOPLE WALKING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD IN THE DARK AGAIN, AVOIDING THEM AT THE LAST SECOND. THE HIGH BEAM THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO CAUSE ANYONE TO FLASH BACK AT ME WHEN THEY APPROACH FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAVE THE (EXPENSIVE) HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTS. THEY HAVE INVESTIGATED AUXILIARY HEADLIGHTS FOR ME BUT HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER, SUGGESTING I GO TO AN AFTERMARKET PERSON TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL LIGHTS. (I AM RELUCTANT TO DO THIS, FOR REASONS OF COMPLEXITY, AND POTENTIAL LEGALITY.) 3. I HAVE MADE THREE ADDITIONAL ROUND TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM OF HEADLIGHTS (HIGH AND/OR LOW BEAM) THAT TURN OFF FOR NO REASON AFTER DRIVING A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. LUCKILY IT IS JUST ONE'.USUALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS THE RIGHT SIDE. ONE 'COMPUTER' HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE DEALER'S SERVICE SHOP PERSONNEL INDICATE ALL THESE ARE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE SEEN PREVIOUSLY AND ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286116October 2, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA 2008 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF (ONE AT A TIME, USUALLY NOT TOGETHER) WHILE DRIVING AT DAWN, NIGHT OR DUSK. NO REPAIRS DONE AT THIS TIME UNTIL TOYOTA OR THE VENDOR WHO SUPPLIES TOYOTA HID HEADLIGHTS, COMPUTER CHIP, ELECTRONICS, SOFTWARE, SENSORS, ETC. EVALUATE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THE WORKAROUND IS DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP, AND TO UNSAFELY TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON. IT IS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS, LABOR WHEN THE MANUFACTURER(S) DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING (BASED ON TALKING TO SERVICE REP IN JULY 2009, NO SERVICE BULLETINS FROM TOYOTA, AT AIRPORT TOYOTA IN VANDALIA, OH). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286069October 2, 2009
TIRES, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS SLIDES WHEN I BRAKE ON WET ROADS. IT IS VERY SCARY AND I'M CONCERNED THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT...ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OCCASIONALLY WHEN MY 77 YR. OLD MOTHER IS DRIVING IT AND IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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