Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10747256August 9, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION...WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE MOUNTINS DOWN A WINDY ROAD AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED. BROUGHT CAR INTO TOYOTA OF MANHATTEN NEXT DAY AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED FOR $530.$300 FOR THE LIGHT BULBS AND 230 FOR LABOR. LEARNED ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR 2008 PRIUS, AND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS SETTLED TOO EARLY AND DOES NOT COVER OLDER VEHICLES WITH COMPLETE LIGHT FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746521August 5, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE HEAD LIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745556August 1, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AS I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK AT 2:00 A.M., THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP WENT DARK. I'M ON A TWO-LANE ROAD, NOT THAT HEAVILY TRAVELED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO ROTATE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AND THE HEADLIGHT WAS RESTORED. FOR THE BALANCE OF MY 60 MILE RIDE, THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. AS TIME PROGRESSED THE FAILURES HAPPENED MORE OFTEN AND CLOSER TOGETHER. EVENTUALLY, THE LAMP WOULDN'T STAY ON FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE. I WENT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO GET A REPLACEMENT BULB AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A "DEALER ONLY" ITEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME A REPLACEMENT BULB WAS $300.00 AND IT WAS $300 TO INSTALL IT. THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS! I FOUND A "YOUTUBE" VIDEO AND PURCHASED A BULB ON AMAZON FOR $50 AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES. TOYOTA KNOWS THERE'S A DESIGN OR COMPONENT FLAW AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. THANKS TOYOTA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744679July 29, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN WARM WEATHER IT SLIPS ON ITS OWN FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE GEAR LEVER IN D OR ELSE IT SLIPS BACK INTO N WHICH OF COURSE CAUSES YOU TO LOSE SPEED. THIS HAPPENS IF YOU STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO GO. ALSO HAPPENS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ON A TOYOTA FORUM (CUSTOMERS) AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. NOTHING SHOWS UP IN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. WE HAD OUR 12V BATTERY REPLACED BECAUSE A LOW CHARGE MESSAGE CAME UP. STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. OTHER POSTS SAY IT'S THE SHIFT LEVER AND IT IS A MANUFACTURER FLAW. THIS FIX IS ANOTHER $500.THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MANUFACTURER ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744753July 29, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING AT NIGHT I NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS DIMMING. I TURNED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND I WAS IN THE DARK. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND THEY CAME BACK ON AT FULL LIGHT. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD MY PASSENGER CHECK THE HEADLIGHTS OUTSIDE. THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHT WAS OUT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS ON. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONE TIME PREVIOUSLY. I TOOK MY CAR INTO TOYOTA AND THEY RAN A CHECK AND TOLD ME THAT MY RIGHT HID BULB WAS OUT, BUT THAT THE LEFT WAS STILL WORKING. THEY REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND SAID I WAS GOOD TO GO. I WORRY, FROM READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON 2006-2009 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS THAT THIS MAY OR MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD - LOSING LIGHTS AT NIGHT. I HAVE READ THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST TOYOTA IN 2011, BUT STILL, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE SUIT HAS ENDED AND I AM NOT ABLE TO CLAIM ANYTHING. STILL, I AM WORRIED THAT THIS WILL LEAD EVENTUALLY TO SOMEONE'S ACCIDENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND SOLVED. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744825July 29, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I PURCHASED MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE IN 2014. EVERY TIME THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD -- BE IT A MAN HOLD, RAILROAD TRACKS -- THE CAR TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD FOR 1-2 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES. IT IS A COMMONPLACE OCCURRENCE WHEN GOING OVER ANY KIND OF UNEVEN SURFACE ON THE ROAD. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS COMMON IN THE 2008 PRIUS AND I AM WONDERING WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN INVESTIGATED. ON JULY 12TH, I WAS DRIVING IN KY IN HEAVY RAIN, GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, I BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 60MPH AND I ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR SIXTEEN YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HYDROPLANED. MY FEAR IS THE CAR DOING THE SAME THING IN RAIN THAT IT DOES ON UNEVEN SURFACES ON DRY ROAD -- LURCHING FORWARD SLIGHTLY WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744430July 28, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BLACK RUBBER IS DISINTEGRATING AND FALLING OFF THE OUTSIDE TRUNK LATCH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK TO GET TO THE SPARE TIRE OR BATTERY. THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING TO MY NEIGHBOR, WHO PARKS RIGHT NEXT TO ME AND ALSO HAS A 2008 PRIUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735659July 22, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE REAR HATCH HANDLE COVER - WHICH APPEARS TO BE RUBBER - STARTED DETERIORATING RATHER QUICKLY IN THE SUMMER HEAT ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AGO AND HAS TURNED INTO A RUBBERY, STICKY BLACK MESS. THE DETERIORATING RUBBER HAS INTERFERED WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR HATCH HAD NOT CLOSED COMPLETELY AND RESULTED IN AN INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINING ON WHICH COMPLETELY DRAINED THE BATTERY. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET BLOGS AND CHAT FORUMS FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE REAR HATCH TO CLOSE PROPERLY AND POTENTIALLY OPENING DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER CHARGED ME $208 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE LATCH. IN MY OPINION, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VEHICLE DEFECT WHICH SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL OR A WARRANTY EXTENSION FROM TOYOTA AND A REFUND OF ANY MONIES PAID BY PRIUS OWNERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735278July 20, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EXTERNAL RUBBER SEAL ON REAR HATCH LATCH/SWITCH IS DETERIORATING/MELTING/STICKY. SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO LOSS OF ABILITY TO OPEN OR ACCESS REAR COMPARTMENT WHEN RUBBER DISINTEGRATES. EXPOSES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735342July 20, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE STARTS, RUNS FOR LIMITED TIME -2-3 MINS. SHUTS OFF VEHICLE STARTS NO ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY ON DASH.. BLANK. VEHICLE STARTS WITH ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY, RUNS FOR 3-5 MILES, LOOSES ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY. UPDATED 12/4/2017*CN VEHICLE STARTS WITH ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY RUNS FOR 3-4 MILES .VEHICLE STOPS, SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. REQUIRES JUMP START,,. AND RUNS ENOUGH TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER. VEHICLE WILL NOT START, REQUIRES JUMP START AND WILL NOT HOLD CHARGE. REQUIRES TOWING TO DEALER. MA 10/8
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10733827July 14, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF. IF I TURN LIGHTS OFF, THEN ON AGAIN, THE HEADLIGHT WILL TURN ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10733405July 11, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BLACK HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT (SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE) TO OPEN THE HATCH. TOYOTA IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM YET REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE COST TO REPLACE WITH PART EXCEEDS $300. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS DOORS NEED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY ON A VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10733288July 10, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I'VE BEEN TOLD A FEW TIMES I HAD A HEADLIGHT OUT BUT HALF THE TIME WHEN I CHECK IT, IT WOULD BE WORKING. IT'S NOT JUST THE HEADLIGHT IT'S ALSO THE PARKING AND FRONT SIDE MARKER LIGHT ON THE SAME SIDE. THESE LIGHTS ARE EXPENSIVE AND SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN 90K MILES. SEEING HOW IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND MORE THAN ONE I DON'T WANT TO WASTE MONEY TO REPLACE IT. IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN LIKE MOST COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ABOUT. I'VE TRIED WHEN IT WAS OUT TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. IT WOULD WORK. WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING IN AREA WITH STREET LIGHTS YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT'S OUT. THERE'S 1064 COMPLAINTS AT THE TIME I WRITE THIS. WHEN IS TOYOTA GOING TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS FAILURE. IS SOMEONE AT NHTSA LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732700July 8, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONCEALMENT DEVICES ACCUMULATED MOISTURE, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732837July 8, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR HATCHBACK LOCKING/UNLOCKING RUBBER HANDLE DISOLVED/MELTED AND BECAME A TAR-LIKE MASS THAT STUCK TO FINGERS. UNABLE TO UNLOCK TRUCK MANUALLY AND ELECTRICALLY. UNABLE TO ACCESS TRUNK WHERE EMERGENCY/SAFETY EQUIPMENT LOCATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731316June 30, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL DIM THEN GO OUT OUT AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF OPERATION. IF THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN THE HEADLIGHT WILL WORK FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS THEN DIM AND GO OUT. THE BULB HAS BEEN CHANGED BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/21/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730753June 27, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE IS A GLASS AREA BELOW THE LIP OF THE HATCHBACK, THAT EXPLODED WHEN SHUTTING THE HATCHBACK. THE GLASS WAS NOT HIT BY ANY OBJECT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. GLASS JUST EXPLODED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726819June 23, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2008 PRIUS WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE SHIFT GEARS POP BACK INTO 'NEUTRAL' POSITION AND WILL NOT STAY IN 'DRIVE' OR 'REVERSE' MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726476June 22, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALMOST WEEKLY MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES VERY DIM OR OUT COMPLETELY. I KNOW IT WHEN I TURN RIGHT AS IT IS DARK AS I ENTER A SIDE STREET UNTIL DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATES AREA. BULBS ARE $ 279 AND NEW ONES DON'T CORRECT IT. I KEEP GETTING DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT TICKETS AS WELL. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726375June 20, 2015
ENGINE
AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT 149,706 MILES, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY 1,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW (I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JANUARY 2008) AND HAVE HAD NEARLY ALL THE REQUIRED SERVICE DONE BY A REGISTERED, LICENSED MECHANIC IN MIDDLETOWN, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE. I DISCOVERED THE EXCESSIVE OIL USE WHEN I NEXT HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ABOUT 155,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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