Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10640210September 30, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STARTING IN JUNE 2013 OUR PRIUS HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AND UNPREDICTABLY GO OUT. IT'S DIFFICULT TO TELL AT TIMES BUT MOSTLY THIS OCCURRED ON THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. IN JANUARY 2014 THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING REGULARLY RATHER THAN SPORADICALLY SO I HAD BOTH HID LIGHTS REPLACED AT A COST OF $389.30. THIS SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAS STARTED AGAIN THIS TIME WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF RANDOMLY. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD AS IT REQUIRES ME TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN TO GET THE LIGHTS TO TURN BACK ON. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES ON A DRIVE OF 10' DURATION. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY PRIUS VEHICLES WITH THE HID LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640304September 30, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE IN THE LINE FOR A CAR WASH, I RELEASED THE BRAKE TO MOVE FORWARD. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE PRIUS ACCELERATED CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE. MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH THE SAME PRIUS SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING HER TO ALSO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639245September 26, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL AND RECOVER WHEN SWITCH IS CYCLED. CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638327September 23, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEAD LAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633457September 16, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 105K MILES ON THE FREEWAY. SUDDENLY, I SAW THE ABS,VCS AND BRAKE LIGHTS SHOWS UP ON THE DASHBOARD ALONG WITH A CONTINUOUS SCREECHING NOISE. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP, I APPLIED THE BRAKE EVEN HARDER, STILL THE CAR DID NOT STOP BUT CONTINUOUS TO MOVE FORWARD. IT WAS TRAFFIC TIME ON A MONDAY MORNING, SO I WAS GOING ON 15MPH. WHEN I FOUND THAT MY BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND, I IMMEDIATELY MOVED TO THE CURB AND CALLED AAA. DEALER DID CHECK MY VEHICLE AND SAID THERE IS BREAK ACTUATOR ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE WITH A PRICE TAG OF 3823 USD. SPOKE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THE ASSOCIATE TOLD THAT THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. HOW COME THE BRAKE ACTUATOR BECOME FAULTY ON A 6 YEAR OLD CAR, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED A SAFE CAR. NOTE: I HAD MY 100K SERVICE DONE AND I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633636September 16, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH LIFTGATE, THE HANDLE HAS MELTED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS THEN NO SAFE WAY TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE REAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS STORED IN THE HATCH, TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND GENERATION PRIUS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS FORUMS. THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY HAS NOW BROKEN FROM THE HATCH, CAUSING THE REAR HATCH NOT TO OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY. THE SAFETY ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME WORSE AS I AM WORRIED THAT THE REAR HATCH MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633198September 15, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE HEADLIGHTS JUST GO OUT, AFTER FLIPPING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, THEY COME BACK ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632560September 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
RUBBER LIKE MATERIAL THAT MADE THE HATCHBACK LATCH HAS MELTED TO THE PLASTIC/METAL. DIFFICULTY OPENING. ON SOME OCCASIONS, IT WILL NOT OPEN. WILL NOT OPEN IN EXTREME HEAT OR COLD WEATHER. ALL DOORS SHOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632153September 10, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. HEADLIGHTS - PASSENGER AND/OR DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON RESTORED THE LIGHT, HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS WILL AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY FAILED ON A LONGER/SHORTER TRIP, THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING REPEATEDLY AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING DURING NIGHT TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS AND TERRIFYING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AGAIN ASAP. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL IN THE PAST FOR SIMILAR REASONS BUT NOT SURE WHAT IS THE STATUS NOW. I BOUGHT THIS CAR PRIVATELY FROM ORIGINAL OWNER (WHO BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM DEALER) AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO ATTENTION OF TOYOTA DEALER IN DANVERS, MA (IRA TOYOTA) BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. I LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO TOYOTA BUT WONDERING HOW DEALER DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. THE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT LINK HTTP://ARTICLES.LATIMES.COM/2011/JAN/19/BUSINESS/LA-FI-0120-TOYOTA-PRIUS-20110120 I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR BACK FROM TOYOTA OR SOMEBODY WHO COULD HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM AND HELP ME DRIVE MY VEHICLE SAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631935September 9, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. HEADLIGHTS - PASSENGER AND/OR DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULBS (2X) - THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON RESTORES THE LIGHT, HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS WILL AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. ON A LONGER TRIP, THIS CAN OCCUR REPEATEDLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630678September 4, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP DRIVING ALONG A SIDE STREET, I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING FOR ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 SECONDS WHILE THE VSC LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THEN THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN AND I COULD STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THEN IN DIFFERENT PLACES DRIVING AROUND TOWN, PROBABLY AFTER HITTING SLIGHT BUMPS OR A FEW PIECES OF GRAVEL. ONE OF THOSE HAPPENED AS I WAS GOING TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE TOYOTA SERVICEMAN COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES THAT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. "NO VERIFIABLE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED." YESTERDAY, I TALKED TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER AGAIN. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO FIX THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629784September 3, 2014
TIRES
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TIRES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN HAVING THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED, THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, A BAD ALIGNMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TIRES TO BECOME DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630533September 3, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WELL DRIVING 65MPH ON FREEWAY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. TURNING THEM OFF AND ON 2X WORKED. IT HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES WITHIN 20MIN. I STOPPED DRIVING AND HAVE NOT DROVE AT NIGHT SINCE. LUCKILY THERE WAS A CAR CLOSE BOTH TIMES. IT WAS DANGEROUS AND TERRIFYING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629854September 1, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
I AM A MECHANICAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I WAS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE TAIL GATE THE INDIVIDUAL HEARD THE CLICK AND THE SLIGHT RELEASE OF THE LOCK FOR THE TAIL GATE. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE SWITCHES COVER. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE HATCH THEY FELT THEIR FINGERS "APPEAR" TO SINK INTO THE SWITCH. AFRAID OF SHOCK OR SUFFERING PHYSICAL ARM THE INDIVIDUAL ATTEMPTED TO PULL HAND AWAY FROM HATCH LATCH. DUE TO THE ADHESIVE NATURE OF THE DEGRADED SWITCH COVER THE FINGERS COULD NOT BE REMOVED IN THE NATURAL EXPECTED MOTION. THE ALTER MOTION RESULTED IN THE BREAKING OF THE LATCH SWITCH COVER AND THE INDIVIDUALS HAND BEING LAUNCHED IN A DIRECTION THAT FORTUNATELY ONLY RESULTED IN A SHOULDER SPRAIN. THIS LEFT THE VEHICLE BACK HATCH WITH A BROKEN COVER AND PREVENT THE USER FROM USING THE BACK HATCH UNTIL THE COVER AND SWITCH WERE /REPAIRED OR REPLACED. IT APPEARS THE RUBBER/GASKET/COVER FOR THE BACK HATCH LATCH SWITCH DEGRADES OVERTIME DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS. IN THE HEAT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE COVER BEGAN TO MELT AND DRIP OFF THE COVER/SWITCH. THE MATERIAL BECAME TACKY/STICKY ENOUGH TO BECOME ADHESIVE ENOUGH THAT SIGNIFICATION [IMPLYING THAT FORCE WOULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SELF INJURY FOR SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT EXPECTING THE SITUATION TO DEVELOP AS SUCH.] FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO SEPARATE FINGERS FROM THE SWITCH (SEVERAL FT/LBS OF FORCE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10629349August 29, 2014
STRUCTURE
BLACK HANDLE ON HATCH STARTED MELTING. AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. IT DRIPS DOWN ON THE REAR BUMPER. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. EVENTUALLY THIS WILL DISABLE THE LATCH FROM OPERATING. I WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT BUT DID NOT GET ANY ANSWERS AND CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO ASK TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628115August 25, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT RANDOMLY ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING! I HAVE LEARNED TO QUICKLY TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN RIGHT BACK ON. SOMETIMES THIS TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM, SOMETIMES FOR A SHORT WHILE, SOMETIMES LONGER. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND FIDDLE WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH UNTIL I, ONCE AGAIN, HAVE HEADLIGHTS! SINCE I USED TO LEAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON ALL OF THE TIME, DAY OR NIGHT, I DID NOT REALIZE, AT FIRST, THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM. I WOULD JUST THINK "WOW, IT'S REALLY DARK OUT HERE!" THE HEADLIGHT ICON ON THE DASHBOARD ALWAYS INDICATED THAT MY LIGHTS WERE ON, SO I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I GOT HOME TO HAVE MY HUSBAND CHECK THE LIGHTS. SOMETIMES THEY WORKED PROPERLY SO IT TOOK US A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT THAT WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER GAVE US THE RUN AROUND AND ACTED AS IS THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM, TOLD US TO COME RIGHT IN AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS FOR EITHER $8.00 OR $12.00 EACH WITH NO LABOR COST; AND THEN CHANGED AND SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR $526.00! I SAID, "NO, THANKS!" AND WENT TO SEE ANOTHER LOCAL SHOP WHICH SPECIALIZES IN TOYOTAS. THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE LOOK ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. WHILE NO RECALLS ARE LISTED YET, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FROM TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS STATING EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US! SUDDENLY HAVING NO HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING IN A POORLY LIT AREA IS CAUSING ME GRAVE (PUN INTENDED!) CONCERNS! I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN, BUT I AM NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO AVOID DOING SO. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS FIXED, BUT NOT AT HIGHWAY ROBBERY PRICES! HAVING HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER ONLY 6 YEARS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SHORT TIME TO ME, COMPARED TO THE OTHER CARS WE HAVE OWNED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627814August 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TRUNK HATCH RELEASE RUBBER PIECE STARTED GOING SOFT; IT IS NOW MELTED AND COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED INTO THE LATCH LOCKING MECHANISM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627786August 23, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WOULD GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. LIGHT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626162August 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE REAR HATCH RELEASE BUTTON/COVER HAS DISINTEGRATED INTO A MUSH OF BLACK GOOEY MATERIAL THAT TURNS MY HANDS BLACK. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE BUT THAT THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL. IT DOESN'T SEEM REASONABLE THAT A 6 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE. CLEARLY IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART TO BEGIN WITH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626183August 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH OF MY CARS HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND FOR NO REASON (THE BULBS AND BALLASTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ARE IN WORKING ORDER). I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT (INTERSTATE 70MPH) AND OCCASIONALLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST TURN OFF. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN A WRECK MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THE FACT I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY LIGHTS GO OUT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN LOOKING THIS UP ONLINE, I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL THAT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS AT 75,000 MILES. LAST NIGHT SPECIFICALLY I ALMOST GOT IN A WRECK GOING 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE OF IT. MANY TIMES I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND ONE OR BOTH WILL WORK AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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