Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10306286February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TOYOTA PRIUS 2008. I BOUGHT THE CAR AS USED FLEET CAR IN AUGUST 2009. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE OVER UNEVEN ROADS, SPECIFICALLY MANHOLE COVERS ON A SLIGHT DOWN GRADE, THE SLIP LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE SLIDING WITHOUT GRIPPING THE ROAD OVER THE COVER. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THAT SAME FEELING WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON UNEVEN ROAD CONDITIONS, SPECIFICALLY METAL MANHOLE COVERS. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. AS LONG AS THE ROAD IS DRY, THIS IS A MOMENTARY FEELING. HOWEVER, ONE DAY THE ROADS WERE RECENTLY WET FROM A RAIN. I WENT TO STOP AND THE CAR SLID AT LEAST SEVERAL FEET BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. I WAS DECELERATING FROM 35 MILES AN HOUR TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THIS REACTION PERSISTS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED AND TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCKING MECHANISM. HOWEVER, I CONTINUE TO HAVE NO GRIPPING ACTION ON WET PAVEMENTS (I SLID COMPLETELY OVER AN ICE PATCH THIS WEEK AT A STOP SIGN. THE PATCH OF ICE WAS AT LEAST 10 FEET ACROSS. I ANTICIPATED THIS PROBLEM SO APPROACHED THE SPOT SLOWLY AND STILL SLID CLEAR TO THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH PUT ME INTO THE CROSS STREET TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE STREET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306282February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THE BRAKES FAIL TO WORK IMMEDIATELY AND/OR THE CAR SPEED SURGES TEMPORARILY WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY SURFACE, SUCH AS GOING OVER A POT HOLE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING SOON AFTER I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR AND HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS - THE MOST RECENT BEING YESTERDAY. AT FIRST, THE SHORT LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED CONCERNED ME, BUT I HAVE COME TO EXPECT IT NOW WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROAD AT SLOW SPEEDS. I STARTED TO THINK IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK THAT WAY. BUT NOW, AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN EARLIER PRIUS MODELS. THIS IS A DUPLICATE OF A COMPLAINT FILED EARLIER TODAY UNDER SPEED CONTROL. SINCE THEN I LEARNED THAT MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE FILED THIS UNDER BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306352February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2010 MODEL. WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR AN UNEVEN PART OF THE ROAD, THE BRAKES WILL NOT TAKE HOLD AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO ACCELERATE OR JERK FORWARD. ALSO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306360February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEED, MY PRIUS 08 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED MAKING THE CAR LUNG FORWARD AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP/POTHOLE...VSC LIGHT WENT ON ND THEN TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY TOYOTA DEALER ON 2/5/10. THEY EXPERIENCED THE VSC LIGHT GOING ON AND SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM. THEY ALSO CHECKED ALL MODULES AND SAID NO CODES CAME UP. THEY ALSO SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM ON A HYBRID. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS IN MY PREVIOUS HONDA ACCORD THAT ALSO HAD ABS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306345February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT IT DIDN'T STOP. I PUMPED THE BRAKE, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. IT STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. THE INCIDENT DIDN'T LAST LONG, AND HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE OTHER, MORE SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THE ACCELERATOR I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT - I'D NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING HAPPENING. I WOULD HAVE FELT FOOLISH TALKING TO THE GUYS AT THE SERVICE CENTER, SO I DECIDED TO WAIT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306355February 5, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
CAR SEEMS TO SLIP ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. WHEN DRIVEN OVER POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE WHEELS SEEM TO SPEED UP BEFORE STABILIZING BACK. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306393February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY PRIUS, 2008 MODEL. THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS ACTED "WEIRD" ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS...EVEN BEFORE HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2010 MODEL PRIUS! WHEN I BRAKE, SOMETIMES THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND INITIALLY AND THEN "LURCHES" BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. ALSO THE ORANGE LIGHT (ABS?) COMES ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THEN DISAPPEARS QUICKLY. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS WHEN I SERVICED THE CAR (12000 MILES) AND THEY JUST SAID THAT IS A "FEATURE" OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I NEVER HAVE HAD A CAR THAT DOES THAT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE NOR DO I TRUST THE JUDGMENT OF THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306380February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON JANUARY 22, 2010, I WAS PULLING INTO A HANDICAP PARKING PLACE OUTSIDE A LOCAL RESTAURANT WHEN MY 2008 PRIUS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKES. MY CAR WENT OVER THE HANDICAP BARRIER AND THE CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN MY CAR HIT THE RESTAURANT LANDSCAPING. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, TALKED TO THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE AND THEY WANTED ME TO DRIVE MY CAR IN. I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY SHOULD TOW IT IN. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T DO IT. NEXT I CALLED MY INSURANCE AGENT AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR IN FEAR OF INJURIES THAT COULD OCCUR IF THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AGAIN. THEY ARRANGED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED IN AND REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306486February 5, 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 WHEN DRIVING OVER A ROUGH OR BUMPY SURFACE AND TRYING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS FURTHER THAN NORMAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE ABS ACTIVATED. THE ISSUE WAS ONGOING AND OCCURRED WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER A PARTICULAR ROUGH SURFACE IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. HE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BEFORE HE DROVE OVER THE ROUGH SURFACE AND COAST TO AVOID THE FAILURE. HE HAS NOT SEEN OR SPOKEN TO THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306465February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
THIS IS FOR A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS DURING NORMAL DAILY/ROUTINE DRIVING, AND OCCURS ALMOST DAILY. PROBLEM: WHILE BRAKING, IF I ENCOUNTER ANY NON-SMOOTH SURFACES (SMALL POT HOLE, SLIGHT GRAVEL, ETC) OR WHILE BRAKING AND TURNING--THE BRAKING PRESSURE/FORCE MOMENTARILY RELEASES FOR ABOUT A 1/2 SECOND ,AND IS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A FLASHING ABS LIGHT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR ALSO MOMENTARILY LUNGES FORWARD DUE TO HAVING NO BRAKING FORCE. ON 4 OCCASIONS I ALMOST ENDED UP INTO CROSS TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I FIRST OWNED THE CAR BACK IN JULY 2009 AND IS NOT A RECENT DEVELOPMENT. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TODAY DURING MY COMMUTE TO WORK ON WINTRY MX WEATHER ROADS, BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY NEAR COLLISIONS. NO REPAIRS OR WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON MY CAR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I ASSUMED THIS PROBLEM WAS INHERENT TO HYBRIDS, BUT IN LIGHT OF RECENT PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS ON THE NEWS, I FELT IT WAS MY DUTY TO REPORT THAT MY 2008 PRIUS DOES HAVE A BRAKING ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306574February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT TOYOTA LOOKS BEYOND JUST THE 2010 MODEL YEAR. WHENEVER I BRAKE AS I HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CAR SEEMS TO SPEED UP JUST A BIT BEFORE THE BRAKES BEGIN WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST PART OF HOW THE CAR WORKED. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CLOSE CALLS. THERE ARE CERTAIN ROADS WHERE I KNOW IT ALWAYS HAPPENS AND I AM NOW PREPARED FOR IT. IT HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN TODAY AS I WAS EXITING A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A NEW POTHOLE ON THE EXIT RAMP AND I HIT IT AS I WAS BRAKING ON THE CURVE. AN ORANGE LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS, SIGNIFYING SLIPPERY OR UNSTABLE ROAD CONDITIONS I GUESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306548February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS IS ABOUT MY PRIUS 2008 MODEL. WHEN IT GOES OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, THE CAR TENDS TO SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. IT DOESN'T OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT MORE THAN ENOUGH TIMES FOR ME TO NOTICE. USUALLY, IT IS WHEN I'M GOING BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MILES AN HOUR OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN SURFACE. I CORRECT THE SURGING BY APPLYING THE BREAKS GENTLY. I HAVE NOT YET MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE I'M REPORTING IS THE DATE AT WHICH I NOTICED IT STARTED HAPPENING, ABOUT ONE YEAR FROM WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. BUT SINCE THEN, IT HAS OCCURRED MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306544February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE WHENEVER THE ROAD IS SLIPPERY THE BRAKES DON'T ENGAGE PROPERLY AND THE CAR CONTINUES FORWARD FOR SOME TIME. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA IN DOWNTOWN LA AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO BUY NEW TIRES AND A ROTATION. I DID THIS. NOW I SEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE IN MY PRIUS STILL IS WHAT THE NEW PRIUS IS BEING RECALLED FOR. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY PRIUS OWNER PRIOR TO 2010 THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD AND WANT TO TRADE THE CAR IN TO TOYOTA OR GET IT FIXED. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IT HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306550February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND LIVE IN ST. PAUL, MN. IN LATE DECEMBER FOLLOWING A SNOW AND THEN ICE STORM I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. AS I WAS COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. I PRESSED HARDER AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY MAKING A SHARP RIGHT HAND TURN AND MISSING THE CAR WHICH I WAS ABOUT TO HIT BROADSIDE. I HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION YET REGARDING THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306582February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ANOTHER 2008 PRIUS OWNER HERE ATTESTING TO THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. JUST ONE HALF OF A MILE FROM MY HOME I ENCOUNTER THE PERFECT ONE TWO COMBINATION THAT DEMONSTRATES THE DEFECT. THERE IS A SLIGHTLY RECESSED MAN HOLE COVER VERY CLOSE TO A SLIGHT RIPPLE IN THE ASPHALT NEAR A "T" INTERSECTION. WHILE BRAKING, IF I ALLOW MY RIGHT WHEELS TO DROP INTO THE MAN HOLE COVER AND THE LEFT WHEELS TO CROSS THE RIPPLE IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER MY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR DOES NOT SLOW. I HAVE TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF THEN RE-APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION. OBVIOUSLY, I AVOID THESE BUMPS NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THIS DEFECT CAN GET ME INTO SERIOUS TROUBLE IN AN AREA I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH. I CAN DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES NEARBY IF ANYONE FROM NHTSA WANTS A DEMONSTRATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306617February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IT FELLS LIKE THE BRAKES STOP WORKING. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306620February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I JUST REPORTED THE BRAKE PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR, BUT THERE'S ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TCS. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON SLICK SURFACES THERE IS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF TRACTION RESULTING IN AN OVERLY-LONG COMPENSATED PERIOD OF SERIOUSLY REDUCED ACCELERATION; THIS HAS CAUSED SAFETY PROBLEMS IN INTERSECTIONS, WHERE I AM UNABLE TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE OUT OF THE WAY IF CONDITIONS ARE SLICK OR SANDY, IT IS SO UNSAFE THAT I WISH I COULD TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306593February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN RECENT MEDIA RELEASES. MY 2005 PRIUS ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I'VE SINCE SOLD IT. WHEN DRIVING OVER A SLIPPERY SURFACE (ICE, A WET SEWER COVER OR PAINTED CROSSWALK LINE) AND NEEDING TO BRAKE - WHEN I FIRST APPLY THE BRAKE IT BEGINS TO STOP, THEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP AGAIN BEFORE CONTINUING TO BRAKE. I'VE LEARNED TO KEEP MY DISTANCE SO I DON'T HIT ANYONE IN THE SPLIT SECOND THE CAR IS NO LONGER BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306716February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY MOTHER HAS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE APPROACH TO THE DRIVEWAY IS UPHILL AND THE DRIVEWAY IS MORE OF A PARKING AREA WITH AN ACCESS APRON. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE CAR'S ENGINE REVVED (VERY HIGH RPMS - I COULD HEAR IT FROM THE BASEMENT). THE CAR GRAZED THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WENT THROUGH A SHORT WALL (BRICK - ABOUT 1 FOOT TALL, 1 FOOT THICK AND 5 FEET LONG) AND AN IRON DECK GATE. THE CAR ENDED UP ON THE DECK AFTER BREAKING OFF TWO 6X6 SUPPORT POSTS. THE DECK HAS HORIZONTAL STAINLESS STEEL CABLES INSTEAD OF PICKETS, AND I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE WHAT KEPT THE CAR FROM GOING OVER THE EDGE - A 25 FOOT DROP. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306782February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME IN LIGHT RAIN ON A SMOOTH,STRAIGHT ROAD A VERY LOUD ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND AND A RED "BRAKE" LIGHT LIT UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE FAILING. THE STEERING ALSO BECAME VERY STIFF. THE ALARM DID NOT STOP UNTIL I HAD PULLED OVER AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DRIVER ERROR FOR DRIVING WITH ONE FOOT ON THE GAS AND ONE ON THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH IS ABSURD. IT WAS ALSO IMPLIED THAT I HAD "IMAGINED" THIS FRIGHTENING EMERGENCY DUE TO THE RECENT PROBLEMS IN THE NEWS WITH THE 2010 BRAKES ON THE PRIUS. THAT IS ALSO COMPLETELY FALSE. I HAD NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED MY CAR MIGHT HAVE A BRAKE FAILURE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AS NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP IN TEARS AND AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH NO HOPE OF AN ANSWER BECAUSE I WAS NOT BELIEVED. THEY EVEN SAID THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH LOUD ALARM THAT COULD GO OFF ON THE 08 PRIUS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CODE C1256 REVEALED,WITH 100% ACCURACY, THAT I HAD HIT THE BRAKE AND GAS SIMULTANEOUSLY 38 TIMES! I EXPLAINED THAT THIS COULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED EVEN ONCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER IS NEVER WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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