Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10311598February 17, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF HID HEADLIGHT (ONE SIDE) ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. SOMETIMES BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS WORK AS INTENDED; SOMETIMES ONE (IN THIS CASE THE LEFT) HEADLIGHT CEASES TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311222February 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING 5 MILES PER HOUR THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG AND SINCE THE ISSUES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATES HE SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND WAS ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE GOING OVER A POTHOLE OR A RAILROAD TRACK THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE ANTI SKID LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE BRAKES INTERLOCK THREE TO FOUR SECONDS LATER. THE FAILURE MILES WERE 2000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 24500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311241February 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES CUT OUT ANY TIME I HIT A ROUGH PLACE ON THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE APPROXIMATELY ONCE PER WEEK. IT DEPENDS ON WHERE I AM DRIVING. FOR EXAMPLE: THERE IS A ROAD CLOSE TO MY WORK WHERE I NEED TO BRAKE FOR A STOP LIGHT RIGHT AT A PLACE WHERE A ROUGH BRIDGE JUNCTION EXIST. WHEN I DRIVE ON THIS ROAD, THE BRAKES CUT OUT EVERY TIME. TOYOTA HAS ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. MY CAR IS A 2008 PRIUS. I KEPT WAITING FOR THEM TO INCLUDE MY CAR, BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311489February 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DRIVER IN TOYOTA PRIUS WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, ROLLED OR DROVE INTO INTERSECTION WHERE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PRIUS DRIVER WAS KILLED. UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF *TR ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS ONLY ONE DEATH AND NO INJURIES. UPDATED 06/15/10. *JB UPDATE 9/21/2011*CW
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10310728February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 PRIUS HAS THE SAME LOSS OF TRACTION WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES AS THE 2010 CAS. THERE ARE TWO SECTIONS OF ROAD THAT I DRIVE OVER EVERYDAY TO AND FROM WORK. EVERYDAY, WHEN I GO OVER THESE SURFACES MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON INDICATING THAT IT IS MOMENTARILY NOT WORKING. IT THEN FEELS LIKE I AM SLIDING ON ICE UNTIL I GET TO EVEN ROAD. PLEASE EXPAND THE INVESTIGATION TO THE AT LEAST THE 2008 MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310734February 16, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 25-30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER THE ACCELERATION INCREASED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF AN OPPOSING VEHICLE. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR BODY DAMAGE REPAIRS. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310772February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IT WOULD SLOW DOWN EVENTUALLY BUT NOT IN THE NORMAL TIME IT SHOULD. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD AS IF THE CONTACT MADE A SUDDEN STOP. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME SHE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THE SECOND VISIT, SHE WAS TOLD THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHAT REPAIRS WERE MADE. SHE STILL NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEMS. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310816February 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (BOUGHT NEW) & HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY THE RADIO WENT OFF & ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OFF. HE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE MOTOR & THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN. IT WAS THEN OK. ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. THE CAR WON'T START & I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS IT DOES START. I HAD NOT REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS, & WOULD NOT HAVE EXCEPT FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTAS ARE NOW HAVING. I THINK THAT MAYBE MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. AND ALTHOUGH MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FLOORMAT RECALL, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY LETTER OR CALLS FROM MY DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310824February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES HER VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPST TO BRAKE OVER A ROUGH TERRAIN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THEN CORRECT ITSELF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310799February 16, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TOYOTA PRIUS PROBLEM - CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION: ON 2 JAN 2010 (ABOUT 0600 HRS) I WAS DRIVING A RENTED PRIUS (ALAMO) FROM PALM BEACH, FL TO MIAMI, FL. I WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL AND GOING THE LISTED SPEED LIMIT FOR I-95 (65MPH). THE CAR SEEMED TO BE PERFORMING CORRECTLY FOR THE FIRST 35 PLUS MILES BUT THEN I GOT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD TO BRAKE. THE CRUISE CONTROL RELEASED NORMALLY AND I SLOWED TO ABOUT 60 MPH. WHEN THE TRAFFIC CLEARED I PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL "RESUME" BUTTON AND THE PRIUS STARTED TO ACCELERATE AS NORMAL. HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATION DID NOT STOP AT THE ORIGINAL SPEED I HAD SET AND HAD BEEN DRIVING AT (65 MPH) BUT CONTINUED TO CLIMB TO 70 MPH AND HIGHER TO NEAR 75 MPH WHEN I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES AND SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF TO SLOW THE CAR. AFTER THAT I DID NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TRIP. I JUST THOUGHT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A GLITCH OR OPERATOR ERROR AND I DID NOT THINK OF IT AS THE PROBLEM I RECENTLY SAW ON THE NEWS. I LIVE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRIUS PROBLEMS UNTIL RECENTLY. AS I SAID THE CAR WAS A RENTAL AND I JUST MENTIONED TO THE CHECK IN PERSON THAT I HAD A SLIGHT PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS REPORTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310837February 16, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS GAS PEDAL STUCK AND PUSHED FORWARD AGAINST MY CONTROL, AND I SLAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL AT SAME TIME AND IT STOPPED. I AM REPORTINT THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AT PRIORITY TOYOTA IN CHESAPEAKE VIRIGNIA RIGHT NOW AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE INCIDENT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING, BUT FOR ME TO CALL TOYOTA 1-800-331-4331 AND REPORT IT, I DID, AND TALKED WITH A REPRESENTATIVE, AND HE SAID ALL HE CAN DO IS PUT IT IN THE CASE FILE, AND IF I WANTED TO I CAN REPORT IT TO NHTSA. I WILL NOT BECOME A DEATH STATISTIC TO PROVE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310877February 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PREMATURE HEADLIGHT FAILURE AT 20,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310864February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED AND TRAVELS OVER A BUMP OR POT HOLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES WOULD MOMENTARILY DISENGAGE AND THEN CORRECT ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22474.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310915February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVEN WHEN NEW, ONLY WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY SURFACE, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL REDUCE BRAKING POWER ALL BY ITSELF, WHEN I NEED THEM THE MOST. WHEN I PRESS INTO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WILL BRAKE AGAIN, BUT BY THIS TIME I WILL HAVE LOST 1 SECOND OF BRAKING TIME. RECENTLY ON JAN 20TH, I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I HAD TO PANIC-BRAKE, AND THE ROAD BECAME BUMPY AS I WAS BRAKING. BY PRESSING THE BRAKE HARDER AFTER 1 SECOND LOST, I BARELY STOPPED IN TIME. I NEVER BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS CAR HAS HYPER-ACTIVE WHEEL-SLIP SENSORS, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THAT DESIGN FLAW. THAT PROBLEM COMES UP WHENEVER I TRY TO ACCELERATE HARD AND MAKE A RIGHT TURN. EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT (AND NO WHEEL SLIP) THE ENGINE CUTS OUT FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN IT WAS NEW, THE DEALER SAID THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT. THAT'S JUST WHY I DIDN'T REPORT IT UNTIL NOW. BACK TO THE BRAKES, TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN I HEARD THE 2010 PRIUS HAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX MINE ALSO. BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT UNLESS THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THERE ISN'T FOR THE 2008. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO REPORT IT TO TOYOTA. I DID THAT ON 02/10/2010. THEN WHEN I HEARD THE TOYOTA PRESIDENT (2 DAYS AGO) SAY THAT EARLIER PRIUS' DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT TO YOU ALSO. PS...I AM AN ANALYST BY TRADE, I AM HIGHLY MECHANICALLY INCLINED, AND HAVE EVEN DONE MY OWN BRAKE JOBS. I KNOW HOW BRAKE SYSTEMS WORK AND HAVE HAD MANY CARS WITH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE HAD THAT DOES THIS ON A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311133February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND SINCE I RECEIVED THE CAR. I NOTICED THAT THE ANTI SKID SYSTEM IS SET WAY TO SENSITIVE. DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD OR LOOSE ROAD AND APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP THE ANTI SKID USUALLY KICKS IN AND THE CAR JUST CONTINUES TO GO FORWARD. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE EVER DROVE THAT ACTS THIS WAY. MY BROTHER HAS THE SAME MAKE, YEAR , AND MODEL AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I DO THINK TOYOTA HAS A PROBLEM WITH OLDER PRIUS TO NOT JUST 2010 MODELS. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE 2010 AND 2008 PRIUS'S ARE THE SAME SO IF 2010'S ARE RECALLED 2008'S SHOULD BE TO. LUCKILY THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AS OF YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310465February 15, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS REPORTED IN THE 2010 RECALL. WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (OR DOING ANYTHING), IF MY CAR HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE SKID CONTROL TAKES OVER AND I CAN NOT MANUALLY BRAKE. WHY IS THIS NOT BEING ADDRESSED? THE DATE IN QUESTION I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND HIT A POTHOLE AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS HITTING THE BRAKES, NOT UNTIL THE SKID CONTROL WAS FINISHED COULD THE BRAKES ACTUALLY FIRE, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL MY CAR WAS HALFWAY IN THE INTERSECTION! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310500February 15, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE ABOUT 57,000 MILES ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. NOT BOTH BUT EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT HEADLIGHT. THE LEFT MORE THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHTS RE LIGHT. AS MY RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON, ONCOMING TRAFFIC CAN STILL SEE ME COMING, BUT MY VISION IS GREATLY REDUCED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310582February 15, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A TOY.PRI.2008,ON 02/03/10 I WAS LEAVING DRIVEWAY APPLIED GAS,CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS ST. INTO TIDALFLOW OF AT. OCEAN AT HIGH TIDE,THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. BRAKE OR TURN OFF. THE POLICE PIC'S NOTEDED GAS PEDAL WAS NOT VISIBLE, FLOOR MAT WAS OVER IT, THE SALT WATER WAS IN CAR AND UPON LEAVING CAR IT WAS WAIST DEEP. THE CAR WAS SERVICED 1/4/10 AT TOYOTA DEALER FOR STATE INSPETION AND USUAL MT. NEVER MENTIONED RECALL OF MATS WHICH I NOW FIND WAS A WELL KNOWN FACT IN SEPT.09. THEY ARE INSISTING IT WILL DRY OUT AND BE FINE,SALT WATER ON ANY CAR IS DEADLY BUTI HYBRID. THE HOUR IT SAT IN WATER PRIOR TO TOW,THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I CALLED TOYOTA THAT DAY AS TOW TOOK CAR TO IT,THEY INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH 2008 PRIUS. THE CAR WAS MOVING MUCH FASTER THAN MY 10MPH OF ORIGIN AND WOULD NOT BRAKE,SHIFT OR SHUT OFF. WATER WAS POURING OUT STEREO SPEAKERS AND UP UNDER HOOD ON/OR UNDER ENGINE BLOCK,THE ENGINE RAN FOR THE HOUR THE CAR SAT IN SALT WATER. TOYOTA HSA BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO HELP AND STILL INSISTS DESPITE AN OFFICAL RECALL THAT THERE WERE TROUBLES WITH 2008 PRIUS. THE POLICE PHOTOS SAY IT ALL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310583February 15, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ANTI-SLIP REAR-WIGGLE UPON HITTING SMALL BUMPS IN ROAD. THE ANTI-SLIP ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IS WAY TOO SENSITIVE AS IT IS RESPONDING TO SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS MAY BE HELPFUL AT HIGH SPEEDS OR ICY CONDITIONS, BUT AT SLOW SPEEDS THE BLINKING YELLOW SKID-CONTROL DASHBOARD LIGHT AND REAREND WIGGLE AS THE SYSTEM TRIES TO RECOVER DOES SEEM ANNOYING. THE SYSTEM IS OVERLY SENSITIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310603February 15, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. FROM DAY ONE, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER THE UNEVEN TERRAIN, AND YOU ARE BRAKING, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON THE DASH AND THE BRAKES STOP WORKING UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PAST THE UNEVEN ROAD. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON ICY ROADS WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLIP, THE BRAKES FAIL. I DID NOT THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL I HEARD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK FOR IT'S SERVICE AND WILL BE REPORTING THE PROBLEM TO THEM AT THAT TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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