Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10336900June 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM HAVING A RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON A 2008 PRIUS THAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM TO ONE DESCRIBED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS. WHEN THE CAR IS WARM (WARM DAY, DRIVE FOR LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES) THE TRANSMISSION CAN SLIP OUT OF DRIVE (OR REVERSE) INTO NEUTRAL. IT WILL DO THIS REPEATEDLY AND NOT ALLOW TO PROCEED IN GEAR UNTIL YOU TURN OFF THE IGNITION FOR SOME MINUTES. THE CAR WILL OPERATE IF YOU MANUALLY PUSH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTO DRIVER AND HOLD IT THERE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION. I WILL TAKE IT INTO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE BUT I DO THINK IT MAY BE AN ENGINEERING OR DESIGN FLAW WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER DRIVERS (INCLUDING A VIDEO LINK FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM) CAN BE FOUND ONLINE HERE: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=3233114#POST3233114
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336454June 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MAY 21, 2010, WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE CONTACT SUFFERED A LEG INJURY AND WAS HE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO LATER SENT HIM A LETTER STATING THAT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10335546June 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HID HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR DESIGN OF THE LIGHTING COMPONENTS OTHER THAN THE BULBS BECAUSE IF I TURN THEM OFF THEY COME BACK ON FINE EVERY TIME LIKE THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335544June 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HID HEADLIGHTS THAT UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, BUT COME BACK ON WHEN MANUALLY TURNED OFF, THEN ON. APPEARS TO BE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NOT THE LIGHTS, OR A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335547June 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HID HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I TURN THEM OFF, THEN BACK ON, THEY WORK PERFECTLY FINE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL GO OUT AGAIN. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE HID HEADLIGHT EQUIPPED PRIUS HAS SOME ELECTRICAL OR DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334872June 7, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE FLOOR MAT *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO COMPLY WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL. WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE DRIVERS FLOOR MAT WAS STILL MISSING FROM WHERE HE HAD PLACED IT IN THE TRUNK AND THAT THE AREA HAD NOT BEEN VACUUMED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROCEDURES HAD NOT BEEN FOLLOWED AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T BELIEVE THE FLOOR MAT INSPECTION HAD BEEN DONE, AND ONLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS MODIFIED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332812June 2, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH RECALL ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334328June 2, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, THE CAR SOMETIMES GOES INTO "ANTI-SKID" MODE, LEADING TO A BRIEF (~1/2 SECOND), DISCONCERTING PERIOD OF LURCHING/ACCELERATION/LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY BEFORE THE CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY THE LIGHTING OF THE YELLOW SKID ICON INDICATOR ON THE DASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10333928May 31, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
WHEN I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP IN MY 2008 PRIUS TOYOTA, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND AND THE CAR GOES FASTER. I NOTICED THIS MAINLY DURING WINTER DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10333946May 31, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1. WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING OVER POTHOLES OR ROUGH ROAD, THE CAR VEERS FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED 2. HAPPENS EVER SINCE WE RECEIVED OUR 2008 PRIUS MAYBE ONCE A MONTH OR SO: RESULTS IN SCARY FEW MOMENTS, ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENTS YET HAVE OCCURRED 3. DEALER CLAIMS CANNOT RE-CREATE THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332761May 27, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND RECEIPT OF A RECALL NOTICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE GOING VERY SLOW, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL RAN OVER A PARKING CEMENT BLOCK AND THEN HIT A BUSH. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, HOWEVER A WEEK LATER THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332296May 26, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS - BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKING ON A ROUGH OR BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE AND CAUSE YOUR BRAKING TIME TO INCREASE BY 5-10 FT WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN THIS DISENGAGEMENT HAPPENS, YOU FEEL FOR A FEW SECONDS AS IF YOU HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE SKID LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332108May 25, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
IN MY 2008 PRIUS, WHEN I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN. HOWEVER, WHEN IT DOES, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP. I FEEL LIKE I AM LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A FEW SECONDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332226May 25, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE HID LIGHTBULBS HAVE FLICKERED AND GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE LIGHTBULBS IS IN EXCESS OF $200. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332225May 25, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP FLICKERED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE HEADLAMP FAILURE WAS COMMON. THE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $250.00. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE OTHER HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331782May 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I AM EXPERIENCING A FEELING THAT THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 PRIUS SEEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP AND SOMETIMES WHEN I AM BRAKING SOMEWHAT ABRUPTLY. THE UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING THAT THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO STOP AND ACTUALLY FEELS AS IF IT IS ACCELERATING ONLY LASTS MOMENTARILY- BUT IT IS A SCARY FEELING. THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM IT WAS PURCHASED. THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM FOUND IN THE MODEL. I AM HOWEVER, NOT AT ALL COMFORTABLE WITH THE INSECURE FEELING THAT THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331546May 21, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, AND THE ROAD IS BUMPY, THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT WORKING FOR A SECOND, AND THEN THEY GRAB. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND THERE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331359May 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS OF 6 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN BRAKE STOPPING TIME. THE CONTACT STATED SHE APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BEFORE THEY ENGAGED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 7/26/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE WOULD START TO ENGAGE AND THEN SUDDENLY LET GO. UPDATED 08/03/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331371May 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2008 PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THE BRAKES SEEM TO MOMENTARILY FAIL AND THE ABS LIGHT BLINKS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT MAKES ME FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY. INCIDENT DATE IS ACTUALLY DATE OF PURCHASE OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331423May 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SEVERE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH A 2008 PRIUS ARE THE FOLLOWING: THE ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ARE NECESSARY BEFORE ANYONE COULD BE CONSIDERED SAFE DRIVING THIS 2008 PRIUS: 1.WHY DID OUR PRIUS HAVE A POWER FAILURE ON APRIL 13TH WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A FLAT STRETCH OF HWY 101 GOING NORTH AT THE BLITHEDALE EXIT IN MILL VALLEY, CA? 2.WHY WHILE DRIVING UP DIVISIDERO AROUND 11:30 OR 12 NOON ON APRIL 25, 2010 DID THE CAR BEGIN BEEPING LOUDLY WHEN GOING UP THE HILL IN PACIFIC HEIGHTS? 3. WHY DID IT THEN START MAKING TWO DIFFERENT BEEPING SOUNDS? WE THEN PULLED OVER AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATED THAT IT HAD JUMPED INTO REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL GOING FORWARD. WE HAD NOT TOUCHED THE SHIFT LEVER, BOTH HANDS WERE ON THE WHEEL. IT JUMPED INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF. 4.WHY , AFTER WE THEN RETURNED THE SHIFT TO DRIVE, WERE WE ABLE TO GO FURTHER UP THE HILL AND THE LOUD BEEPING STARTED AGAIN WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE? WE STOPPED THE CAR AND KEPT A FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. AAA CAME. AAA DROVE THE CAR WITHOUT BEEPING TO A MORE LEVEL PART OF THE STREET TO LOAD IT UPON A TRUCK AND CARRIED THE CAR TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GEARY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAVE YET [5.20.10] TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS SO IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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